Raspberry Pi’s devices are the most widely sold computers by a UK firm and are popular with people who do programming as a hobby.
Upton founded the company in 2012 because he was concerned young people were no longer getting computing skills because mobile phones and games consoles were replacing devices that they easily programme.
Raspberry Pi floated on the London Stock Exchange in 2024 and has become a success story for the UK stock market amid a swathe of other firms snubbing it for a listing in the US, including Cambridge-based chip maker Arm.
Upton said that while the UK had “enormous” industrial capacity, he admitted that high energy costs are “a challenge” for firms.
Britain has had among highest energy costs of the G7 nations in recent years, which has proved damaging for businesses.
“About the only reason I wouldn’t do engineering build objects in the UK is the high cost of energy, and we need to do something about that,” Upton said. “We’re extremely lucky we’re not running a fertiliser factory or an oil refinery.”
“The cost of energy in the home has an impact on your labour cost. You have to pay people enough money to live.”