Even the F-35B isn't a VTOL when it has a serious payload. The years (and many airframe losses) have emphasized that "true VTOL" is a pyrrhic victory over physics.

Regardless, any real VTOL enthusiast knows that the UK has a history with this stuff and deserves their respect.

Judging by their website, it does take off vertically, but just didn’t in this flight. Which makes sense if this was the first flight away from the airport. They need to do things in small steps and validate each one.