Member Article

William Perrin addresses North East tech scene on post-Brexit future

Over 60 businesses from the North East’s digital sector came together at Newcastle-based tech hub Campus North last night (24 January) to discuss the industry’s future in the wake of Brexit.

Part of support agency Generator’s Digital Futures programme, the event was the first of a networking series dubbed Thinking Digital Sessions.

William Perrin, Tony Blair’s former policy advisor come social entrepreneur, delivered a keynote speech provided a defiant message in face of uncertainty surrounding the sector’s growth.

Mr Perrin, who is also the Director of the international digital consultancy firm, Talk About Local, said: “It’s natural to have trepidation about any big change, but it we don’t look for opportunities we won’t find them.

“I was a remain campaigner, but I’m determined to make the best of this huge national change in direction.

“It’s more important than ever now to come together, share information and stories and speak with one voice both to government and other countries. It’s a very complex and exciting time for the nation – only the best informed and best represented will prosper.

“Never let a good crisis go to waste. The North East tech sector needs to make its voice clear and loud in London, where they will have to take a lot of opportunities in a hurry.

“It’s important that businesses expand their vision and outlook beyond Europe and actively look for opportunities in the USA, Latin America, Singapore, Australia, China.”

The Thinking Digital Session, co hosted by CEO of Thinking Digital, Herb Kim, came just hours after the Government was informed it had lost out on its Brexit Vote appeal and businesses at the event used the opportunity to ask the honest question, where do we go from here in times of such uncertainty?

Mr Perrin, however, was eager to reinforce the fact that the Supreme Court ruling will not delay Brexit and the region may face a turbulent future if it doesn’t prepare and be wise to inevitable change.

He added: “There’s a huge amount going on in the region but it lacks clear leadership and a story to tell to people.

“The region needs a coherent voice, that needn’t be an elected politician or official, it could be a business leader an entrepreneur or organisations such as Digital Union banging its drum even more on behalf with its members.

“As the North East moves away from substantial EU funding post-Brexit, many opportunities will open up for entrepreneurs as the shape of the market changes.

“Those opportunities will be shaped by the market and private investors rather than formed

in Brussels or London. It’ll be a tough change for those who are used to playing a bureaucracy game with state funders. Having skills will be vital which I know this region has in abundance.“

Moreover, Jim Mawdsley, CEO of Generator, said it’s vital that the region looks outwardly and be bold while faced with the reality of Brexit.

He said: “At Generator, we have always brought business leaders to the North East to talk to our client base and this latest initiative continues this ethos. I think it’s important with so much uncertainty still around what Brexit means to us as a sector to look at what will be changing.

“We have already looked at our operation at Generator and how we might continue to support the sector without European Funding and we are excited by the challenge.

“We are assuming there will be no succession funding, we don’t know this but consider it the right approach. In times like this, you have to refocus and events like this certainly help with our thinking and hopefully the same will apply to all the different parts of the sector at the event in Campus North.

“The event has been successful in terms of not only attendance, the event was ‘sold out’ very quickly but it has also brought people from different walks into the room to share their opinion, contribute and put issues like this on the table. I think everyone will have got something from it and that is extremely positive.”