FindCheapVPNs has published research showing a sharp rise in UK searches for VPNs after the government confirmed plans to restrict social media access for under-16s. It said the latest weekly search-interest index was the highest since early August 2025.

The analysis examined 53 weeks of UK Google Trends data and 270 monthly observations from January 2004 to June 2026. In the latest weekly reading, the VPN search-interest index reached 34, up from an average of 12.5 over the previous four weeks, which the group calculated as a 172% increase.

The rise began after the government confirmed its under-16 social media policy. The first regulations are expected before the end of 2026, with implementation planned for spring 2027.

Google Trends uses a relative index rather than raw search volumes. A score of 100 marks the point of highest popularity within the selected dataset, so a reading of 34 reflects relative demand rather than the number of searches.

Martin Needs, Cybersecurity expert, director of NeedSec and lead technical assessor at FindCheapVPNs, said the latest increase appeared to reflect concern before any direct change to access rules had taken effect.

“The current increase appears to be an early response to a confirmed future policy,” Needs said.

“People are researching VPNs before the detailed regulations and enforcement systems have been completed. That suggests major online-access announcements can now trigger immediate questions about privacy, age checks and the future use of VPN technology.”

Earlier peak

The research found that the strongest jump in the past year followed the introduction of stronger age checks in July 2025, rather than the latest policy announcement. During the five weeks before that change, the average Google Trends index was 9. In the following five weeks, from 20 July to 17 August, it averaged 47.4, which FindCheapVPNs calculated as an increase of about 427%.

The weekly index reached 100 in the week beginning 27 July 2025. From 25 July, online services allowing pornography and some other harmful content were required to introduce age-assurance measures aimed at protecting children.

The report drew a distinction between legislative milestones and practical changes that affect users directly. It said the Online Safety Act’s Royal Assent in October 2023 did not trigger a comparable immediate spike in VPN search interest.

Needs said the July 2025 increase remained the clearest signal in the annual data.

“The July 2025 peak remains the clearest event in the annual data,” he said.

“The search response was far larger when age checks began affecting users directly than when legislation was passed or consultations were announced. Immediate changes appear to create the strongest demand for technical alternatives.”

Long-term trend

Over a longer period, the monthly data pointed to a steady rise in UK interest in VPNs. Average relative interest was 1.3 between 2004 and 2013, 10.2 between 2014 and 2019, 20.9 between 2020 and 2024, and 46 between January 2025 and June 2026.

The data also highlighted several moments when interest appeared to shift. In November 2016, the monthly index rose from 7 to 13 during public debate over the Investigatory Powers Act. Interest also stayed elevated during 2020 as remote working expanded and more people needed secure access to work systems from home.

Related queries

FindCheapVPNs also examined the fastest-rising UK searches linked to VPNs over the past month. Google Trends labelled all 10 of the leading related searches as “Breakout”, indicating relative growth of more than 5,000% against the previous comparable period.

Those searches included “are vpns illegal”, “are vpns legal”, “uk to ban vpns”, “will uk ban vpns”, “vpn free trial”, “free vpns for iphone” and “cheapest vpns”. According to the analysis, seven of the 10 queries concerned government policy, legality or possible restrictions, while three related to free trials, free mobile VPNs or cheaper services.

The report said the search data could not identify users’ ages or motives, or show whether any search led to an installation. It also said the figures should not be treated as proof that children were behind the increase or that users intended to bypass proposed rules.

Needs cautioned against assuming that interest in VPNs meant unlawful activity.

“VPN searches should not automatically be treated as evidence of wrongdoing,” he said.

“VPNs are used by businesses, remote workers, travellers, journalists and ordinary consumers for legitimate security and privacy purposes.”

He also pointed to a separate concern in the recent data.

“The more concerning signal is the growth in searches for free applications. When demand rises suddenly, inexperienced users may install unfamiliar software without checking its ownership, permissions, logging practices or business model.”

AVK has been named among the UK’s Best Managed Companies for 2026 in an award run by Deloitte Private.

The recognition places AVK among private businesses assessed on strategy, culture and commitment, capabilities and innovation, and governance and financial performance. It comes during a period of expansion for the company, which supplies power systems for data centres and other organisations in the UK and Europe.

The UK Best Managed Companies programme is in its second year in Britain and is already established in more than 45 territories. It focuses on privately owned businesses, assessing their overall management performance and contribution to industry and the wider economy.

Recent milestones include the launch of what AVK described as Europe’s first microgrid for a data centre and the introduction of its PowerPods units, which combine critical electrical infrastructure in a transportable format. The company has also been expanding its operations and engineering base across the UK and Europe.

The award comes as data centre operators face rising pressure to secure electricity supply for new facilities, particularly as artificial intelligence workloads increase demand for computing power. That has created opportunities for companies involved in backup power, grid connections and on-site energy systems.

Ben Pritchard, Chief Executive Officer of AVK, linked the award to the company’s workforce and growth strategy.

“We are thrilled to be recognised as one of the UK’s best managed private companies. This award belongs to every member of the AVK team. Their expertise, dedication and engineering excellence have driven our growth and made us the partner of choice for the operators building the UK and Europe’s digital infrastructure,” Pritchard said.

He added that the judging process had compared the business with leading private companies in other markets.

“To have our strategy, our culture and our capabilities benchmarked against some of the best private companies in the world, and acknowledged by Deloitte Private and the Best Managed Companies judges in this way, is a proud moment for the business. It reflects the disciplined way we have scaled while keeping our people and our customers at the centre of everything we do,” he said.

Awards Criteria

Independent judges reviewed applicants against four pillars: strategy, culture and commitment, capabilities and innovation, and governance and financial performance. The scheme is designed to recognise management quality rather than a single product launch or financial result.

Deloitte Private said the programme highlights the role private companies play in investment, employment and economic growth. It also provides a framework for management teams to measure themselves against peers.

Claire Evans, Deloitte Private Partner and UK Best Managed Companies Leader, outlined the rationale behind the awards.

“The Best Managed Companies programme celebrates the passion, resilience and focus on sustainable growth that are hallmarks of the UK’s leading private businesses. These businesses are purpose-driven, disciplined and industry-leading. They are confidently navigating the future and setting an inspiring standard for success among private businesses in the UK,” Evans said.

Market Demand

AVK operates in a market shaped by the rapid build-out of digital infrastructure. Developers of large data centres have been looking for ways to bring capacity online faster while dealing with grid constraints, planning complexity and resilience requirements.

That has increased interest in modular and pre-engineered electrical systems that can be delivered with less on-site construction. It has also pushed energy suppliers and engineering groups to offer more integrated approaches to generation, storage and distribution.

Across the UK and Europe, governments and businesses are also weighing the energy implications of digital growth. New server capacity for cloud computing and AI has raised concerns about power availability, costs and the pace at which electricity networks can support major projects.

In that environment, companies serving the sector are under pressure to show they can manage growth while maintaining delivery standards and financial discipline. The Best Managed Companies recognition points to those broader management questions as much as to market momentum.

The programme was established in Canada in 1993 and now operates across the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific. In the UK, it aims to identify private businesses that combine organisational performance with sustained development across several parts of the business.

For AVK, the recognition adds to a period in which power infrastructure for data centres has moved closer to the centre of the technology investment story in Britain and continental Europe.

SAP Concur has published UK survey findings showing that 75% of business travellers use or would use unapproved AI tools for work travel. The research also found that all chief financial officers surveyed were concerned about the effect of shadow AI on data security and compliance.

The figures point to a gap between company policy and how staff arrange, manage and report business trips. The issue is not limited to deliberate rule-breaking: 32% of travellers said they turn to unapproved tools because their employer does not provide official AI options for planning or booking travel.

The study suggests AI is already widespread in travel workflows. Almost four in five respondents, or 79%, said they had used AI-powered tools to support some part of a business trip.

Among the most common uses, 37% said they used AI to plan a trip agenda. Another 30% used it to track expenses during a trip, while 26% used it to assess travel risks.

Around 24% said they used AI tools to rebook or make changes to a trip, and the same share used them to curate travel options during booking. A further 21% said they used such tools to complete an expense report after the trip.

Who is using it

The survey found clear differences across age groups. Openness to using shadow AI was highest among Gen Z travellers at 79% and Millennials at 76%, before dropping to 62% among Gen X and 49% among Boomers.

Working patterns also appeared to influence behaviour. Remote workers were more likely to say they would use unapproved AI tools, at 81%, compared with 71% of fully on-site employees.

International travel was another dividing line. Three quarters of those who travel abroad for work said they have used or would use shadow AI tools, compared with 63% of domestic business travellers.

Availability appears to be only part of the issue. SAP Concur found that 43% of respondents preferred tools other than those approved by their employer, suggesting staff often see consumer AI products as more useful or easier to access than official systems.

Governance concerns

For finance leaders, the spread of unapproved tools raises concerns about oversight of spending, personal data and links to internal systems. All chief financial officers surveyed said they were worried about shadow AI in business travel, reflecting how closely travel booking and expense management sit to finance controls.

Paul Dear, vice president, Concur Travel EMEA at SAP Concur, said the pattern showed a broader management problem rather than an isolated technology issue.

“It’s a huge worry for business leaders. 100% of CFOs say they’re concerned by shadow AI in business travel,” said Paul Dear, vice president, Concur Travel EMEA at SAP Concur.

He warned about the risks created when workers rely on systems outside approved company processes.

“As consumer AI tools proliferate, they open the door for employees to use unsanctioned systems for booking or planning business travel. Unfortunately, this shadow AI can create security risks, particularly when employees input sensitive data or connect business systems to unauthorised software. Leaders must educate workers on the risks and provide T&E tools that deliver the desired level of AI support,” Dear said.

What staff want

The survey also explored the AI features employees want in work travel tools. The most common request, cited by 38% of respondents, was for AI integrations in other parts of the workflow, such as presentation software and calendars.

Another 36% said they wanted AI embedded in communication software including Teams and Slack. Some 32% wanted integrations in role-specific tools such as customer relationship management systems.

Proactive prompts were also in demand. Nearly a third, or 31%, said they wanted AI that notifies them to book through alerts or reminders, while 30% wanted chatbot interfaces within existing booking tools.

Taken together, the findings suggest companies face a practical challenge as they try to impose governance on AI use in travel. Employees are already using AI for booking, risk checks and expenses, but many appear willing to do so outside approved channels when official tools are missing or fail to meet their needs.

For travel and finance teams, that leaves a choice between tighter enforcement and broader adoption of sanctioned tools that fit into the systems employees already use. In the survey, 38% of employees said they wanted AI integrations in other parts of the workflow, and 36% wanted AI embedded in communication software.