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Government reveals new investments and renewed commitment to growing UK tech

The government has this evening (14 November) announced new funding and renewed commitment to growing the UK’s tech sector.

Revealing a new support package, the PM and Chancellor announced their intention to ensure Britain remains at the ‘forefront of global innovation’.

The duo have pledged a £21m investment to expand Tech City UK into a nationwide network – Tech Nation – to accelerate the growth of the digital tech sector across the country

Moreover, a new £20m fund has been announced to help public services take advantage of UK expertise in innovative technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence.

Furthermore, a £20m training programme is being set up to challenge thousands of young people aged between 14 and 18 to test their skills against simulated online cyber threats.

In addition, other measures include doubling the number of visas available to the brightest and best talent from around the world, including in digital technology.

Prime Minister Theresa May, who will co-host a tech roundtable and reception at Downing Street alongside the Chancellor ahead of The Budget, explained: “Our digital tech sector is one of the UK’s fastest-growing industries, and is supporting talent, boosting productivity, and creating hundreds of thousands of good, high-skilled jobs up and down the country.

“It is absolutely right that this dynamic sector, which makes such an immense contribution to our economic life and to our society, has the full backing of Government.

“Helping our world-class entrepreneurs and innovators to succeed is how we lay the foundations for our prosperity and build an economy fit for the future.

“Technology is at the heart of our modern Industrial Strategy, and we will continue to invest in the best new innovations and ideas, in the brightest and best talent, and in revolutionary digital infrastructure.

“And as we prepare to leave the European Union, I am clear that Britain will remain open for business. That means Government doing all it can to secure a strong future for our thriving tech sector and ensure people in all corners of our nation share in the benefits of its success.”

Scaling tech support

The Home Office will look at how it can work with organisations across the UK to ensure wider take up of the additional visas outside London. Alongside this, the Home Secretary will meet with technology experts to seek their input on making sure our visa processes are as efficient as possible.

The new funding for Tech Nation will see the organisation expand its successful hub model to more cities around the country, including Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Birmingham. Building on the work of existing regional clusters, Tech Nation will support 40,000 entrepreneurs and up to 4,000 start-ups as they scale their businesses.

The new ‘GovTech’ challenge fund will encourage UK firms to use technology to solve challenges facing the public sector, while a dedicated new team will act as a front door into Whitehall to connect tech companies to the right parts of Government.

A new £2 million pilot voucher scheme is also being launched today by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), in Aberdeenshire, Bristol/Bath and North East Somerset, Coventry and Warwickshire, and West Yorkshire.

This is part of Government’s pledge to help bring the UK’s fastest and most reliable broadband to homes and businesses across the country. Local companies will be among those offered vouchers by broadband suppliers to pay for gold-standard full-fibre gigabit connections, to help revolutionise our digital infrastructure and make it fit for the future.

The PM and Chancellor will also confirm that over two million people have now received free digital skills training from businesses such as Barclays, Cisco, Google and Lloyds Banking Group, under the Digital Skills Partnership launched by DCMS earlier this year.

And there are just days left for students to apply for a new apprenticeship and university bursary worth £4,000 a year, being offered by the National Cyber Security Centre as part of Government’s investment in the next generation of cyber security specialists, digital entrepreneurs and tech innovators.

Reaction

Chancellor Phillip Hammond said: “Britain is a world leader in digital innovation with some of the brightest and best tech firms operating in this country.

“Working with us, they can provide technological fixes to public sector problems, boost productivity, and get the nation working smarter as we create an economy fit for the future.”

Brent Hoberman, Co-Founder and Chairman of Founders Forum, said: “I welcome the UK Government’s recognition of the importance and positive impact of the tech sector. These measures announced today will help reinforce the UK’s European leadership in technology and entrepreneurship.”

Sherry Coutu CBE, Chair of Founders4Schools and the Scaleup Institute said: “The digital tech sector is a key component of the UK’s competitive advantage and these new measures are welcome news for innovative small and medium-sized businesses and third sector organisations by helping to create the conditions in which they can scale up.”

Eileen Burbidge, Chair of Tech City UK, said: “We are delighted to hear that the Government wants to increase Tech City UK’s funding for the next four years.

“Under the Tech Nation banner, this country that has brought so much innovation to the world and leads in sub-sectors such as fintech, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, robotics and life sciences, will build a national network of digital excellence so that the UK will continue to be recognised as one of the best places in the world to start or grow a digital tech business.”

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