United Kingdom: Department of Science, Innovation and Technology published policy paper following inquiry into UK third-party AI assurance market

On 3 September 2025, the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) published a policy paper following an inquiry into the UK third-party AI assurance market. The paper outlines the steps the government will take to support the market, challenges the market currently faces, and the interventions the DSIT explored to address those challenges. The paper announces that the UK government will be convening an AI assurance consortium of stakeholders, tasked with developing a professional code of ethics for AI assurance and a skills and competencies framework. The consortium will also be tasked with mapping information requirements to ensure best practices. DSIT is also establishing the AI Assurance Innovation Fund. Challenges described by the paper include ensuring the quality of the AI assurance market, supplying the AI assurance market with skilled labour, providing the AI assurance market with sufficient information about AI systems, and supporting collaborative research and development on AI assurance. DSIT considered three possible pathways to address these challenges. First, DSIT considered professionalisation of the AI assurance industry by providing professional certification and/or registration. Second, DSIT considered certification of assurance processes by issuing a quality mark for the processes used to assure an AI system. Third, DSIT considered accreditation of assurance firms that demonstrate they have the skills and competencies required to provide effective AI assurance services. The paper details potential benefits and challenges for all three pathways.