The Information Economy Strategy

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Government Industrial Strategy – What is it?

• To give confidence for investment and growth in key sectors

• Long-term and whole of government approach

•Government working in partnership with business

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Information Economy – What is it?

• Fast Moving• Certainly includes Software, IT services, telecoms

but impacts across the whole economy.

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What Are We Trying to Do?

Vision - thriving UK information economy that enhances national competitiveness through:

• Strong, innovative sector and businesses• Organisations and citizens that can use

technology confidently • Digital infrastructure that supports growth.

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What is the Information Economy Council?

• Industry-government partnership – provides strategic direction and delivers action

• Co-chaired by David Willetts, Minister for Universities and Science, and Victor Chavez, President of Tech UK and CEO of Thales UK

•Membership includes Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, company representatives (large and small), academia, investors and other key players in the information economy

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Information Economy Council’s Three Working Groups

(1) Business Environment and Confidence

Will identify ways of better measuring the sector; and , barriers to scaling up small companies to become medium or large businesses.

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Information Economy Council’s Three Working Groups

(2) Future Technologies and Infrastructure

Two sub groups have been set up to take forward actions: on data- published a data capability strategy with actions on skills/capability for future capacity; and on, networks – to influence international standards including 5G.

Established a Smart Cities Forum to develop and co-ordinate policy across local and central government.

Its priorities are: Data - Opportunities and Challenges; Mobility in Cities; Health and Social Care (ageing population); Energy and Sustainability; and a modern integrated infrastructure.

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Information Economy Council’s Three Working Groups

Skills and Capability

This group’s strategic objectives: to develop a world class pipeline of new tech talent; accelerate the intake of new recruits into the technology workforce; develop the skills to succeed in new markets, and enable businesses and individuals to fully participate in the information economy

Go On UK programme to help SMEs trade online being piloted in the North East with a proposed roll out later this year.

Ran a Graduate Skills workshop inviting views from industry, academia and Government to address digital skills issues.

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Employer Ownership Pilot

Employer Ownership Pilot - puts the shaping and

commissioning of skills in the hands of business

Industrial Partnership for IE sector - due to launch in March

Supported by around £20m of government funding and £65m matched funding from industry (subject to negotiation)

Ambition to create over 16,000 new apprenticeships and a pipeline of 100,000 people more likely to pursue technology careers, 50% being female.

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Further Information

• Information Economy Strategy and Council see http://www.techuk.org/about/information-economy-council

• Smart Cities see https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/smart-cities-background-paper