Business & Technology
Argyll launches UK sovereign AI cloud for organisations
SOFIAH NICHOLE SALIVIO
News Editor
Argyll Data Development has launched a sovereign AI inference cloud for UK organisations, designed to keep infrastructure and model control within UK jurisdiction.
The Dunoon-based company built the platform with SambaNova for organisations that want to run production AI workloads without relying on foreign-owned hyperscale cloud providers.
The launch comes as businesses and public sector bodies move AI systems from pilot projects into live operations, bringing greater scrutiny over where data is held, who controls the underlying systems, and how services meet regulatory requirements. In sectors such as defence, healthcare and finance, those questions have become more pressing because some workloads cannot be moved offshore.
Argyll says the platform combines UK-owned infrastructure with SambaNova hardware and software so that data, models and operations remain under UK control. It is intended to address concerns about reliance on overseas cloud groups for AI inference.
Sovereignty focus
At the centre of the service is SambaNova’s Reconfigurable Data Unit architecture, running the company’s SambaManaged system. The design can be deployed in existing UK data centres, with racks operating at about 10kW, in contrast to the higher power demands and cooling requirements often associated with GPU-based systems.
The cloud hosts open-source models including Minimax and can deliver speeds of up to 400 tokens per second within a UK-resident environment. It is designed for real-time AI applications ranging from customer operations to fraud detection.
Argyll has also structured the platform as a disaggregated system, allowing compute, storage and networking to be distributed across multiple UK locations while functioning as a single inference layer. The company says this offers resilience and flexibility for regulated and security-sensitive users.
Peter Griffiths outlined the company’s view of what constitutes sovereign AI infrastructure.
“Sovereignty in AI is not a label you can apply to a contract or a colocation agreement. It is a condition that has to be demonstrated – who is accountable, where the infrastructure sits, who controls the intelligence layer, and whether all of that aligns with the expectations of the society being served. Our platform satisfies those conditions. We are building the standard that others should be measured against,” said Peter Griffiths, Chairman of Argyll Data Development.
The launch reflects a wider debate in the UK over how AI services should be built and governed as adoption grows. Much of the market relies on large US cloud providers for computing and model access, but some organisations have raised concerns that dependence on overseas platforms could complicate compliance, procurement and public trust.
Energy use and operating costs have also become central issues as AI models are deployed at scale. Argyll and SambaNova are positioning their offer as an alternative to GPU-led systems, arguing that power consumption, cooling needs and ongoing infrastructure costs can become barriers when organisations move from testing to full production use.
Jude Sheeran, who leads SambaNova in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said many users had not fully considered those trade-offs.
“As organisations scale AI, many are defaulting to GPU infrastructure without fully accounting for long-term cost, energy and operational complexity. Our work with Argyll provides an alternative, enabling high-performance AI inference that is more efficient, deployable and aligned with sovereignty requirements,” said Jude Sheeran, Managing Director for EMEA at SambaNova.
Argyll describes itself as a developer of renewable-powered infrastructure for AI in the UK. Its flagship project is the 184-acre Killellan AI Growth Zone in Argyll, where it plans to combine on-site wind, wave and solar generation with data-centre infrastructure.
That broader strategy links the company’s sovereign cloud pitch to domestic energy supply as well as data jurisdiction. For UK organisations deciding where to place sensitive AI workloads, Argyll is arguing that control over infrastructure, operations and location should sit together rather than be split across contracts and overseas cloud platforms.
Business & Technology
Rosa’s Thai is giving away 4000 free Pad Thais to students
Celebrating both GCSE and A-Level Results Days, the chain will offer the popular dish to students who buy one of its bubble teas.
The free offer is available at all 42 Rosa’s Thai restaurants across England and Wales.
To avail of the free noodles, students need to register on Rosa’s Thai website for a unique code, which they should present at the restaurant together with a copy of their results.
Rosa’s Thai has a new range of bubble tea flavours, including Ube-Taro, Matcha-Coconut, Mango Sticky Rice, and Milo Chocolate Milk, as well as favourites like Home-brewed Thai Tea with Tapioca, and Lychee Mango with mango boba.
Students can sign up for their free Pad Thai at rosasthai.com/result-day-free-pad-thai and find their nearest restaurant at rosasthai.com/locations.
Business & Technology
Historic coin company enters administration after 20 years
The London Mint Office, which distributes commemorative coins and medals, appointed administrators on July 31 after 20 years in business.
The company’s website now displays a message confirming the appointment of Michael Magnay and Jonny Marston of Alvarez & Marsal Europe LLP as joint administrators.
A spokesman for Alvarez and Marsal said: “On July 31 2026, Michael Magnay and Jonny Marston of Alvarez & Marsal Europe LLP were appointed as Joint Administrators of The London Mint Office Limited in administration (the “Company”).
“Regrettably, the Company’s liquidity challenges have led to a number of immediate redundancies. We are supporting the affected employees through the redundancy process.
What Happens When a Company Goes Into Administration?
“The affairs, business and property of the Company are being managed by the Joint Administrators who act as agents of the Company and without personal liability.”
The announcement confirms that it is no longer possible to purchase coins or medals through the company’s website.
The London Mint Office operates a distribution centre in Tonypandy, Rhondda Cynon Taf, where it employs a significant number of people.
Administration is a formal insolvency process triggered when a business cannot meet its financial obligations.
An insolvency practitioner is appointed to manage the company’s affairs and may attempt to restructure the business or sell off assets to repay creditors.
What happens when a company goes into Liquidation?
Founded in 2006, The London Mint Office describes itself as “one of the UK’s most trusted suppliers of historic, commemorative, and collector coins.”
It is part of Samlerhuset AS, a Norwegian company based near Oslo and one of Europe’s largest distributors of commemorative coins and medals.
Samlerhuset’s website states that it offers “provide a wide range of coins from ancient to modern, originating from virtually every country in the world.”
The London Mint Office has advised anyone with an interest in the company’s assets to contact the administrators at INS_THLMOL@alvarezandmarsal.com.
Business & Technology
Warning of new rules for Aldi and Lidl after watchdog review
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has provisionally decided that both discounters should be added to the Groceries Market Investigation (Controlled Land) Order 2010, which currently applies to Asda, Co-op, Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and Waitrose.
This order is designed to prevent large grocery retailers from using land agreements to block competitors from opening nearby stores, often through restrictive covenants or exclusivity terms.
Juliette Enser, executive director of competition enforcement and markets at the CMA, said: “We want everyone to have the best choice of supermarket and range of prices when buying their groceries.
“To ensure this happens, we put rules in place to prevent big supermarket chains blocking rival stores from opening nearby – and now we propose applying those rules to Aldi and Lidl too.
“This is about allowing shoppers to choose where they spend their money and levelling the playing field for all major supermarkets.
“Today’s proposals are provisional and we welcome views before deciding the best way forward.”
The CMA’s review found that Aldi, Lidl GB, and Lidl NI now meet the criteria of ‘Large Grocery Retailers’ (LGRs) due to their store footprint, nationwide presence, procurement model, and the breadth of their grocery range.
Aldi and Lidl were originally excluded from the 2010 order as ‘limited assortment discounters’, offering a smaller selection of products compared to traditional supermarkets.
However, the CMA’s provisional findings indicate that this is no longer the case.
All three now operate large grocery stores, each with more than 1,000 square metres of shop floor space, and offer a full range of products, though with less category choice than some competitors.
They also purchase goods directly from suppliers through integrated wholesaling.
With the UK grocery market estimated to be worth £215 billion, Aldi and Lidl are now ranked among the top five retailers by market share.
The CMA is seeking feedback from stakeholders before reaching a final decision.
Aldi and Lidl could join the other supermarket chains later this year.
The CMA is inviting views until 5pm on Monday, September 7, 2026, and will issue its final decision in the autumn after reviewing responses.
If the discounters are included under the order, they will be prevented from using land agreements to limit competition from other supermarket chains.
The CMA aims to ensure competition across the grocery sector to give shoppers more choice and competitive pricing by removing obstacles to new store openings.
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