TechUK calls on government to appoint specialised digital ministers
The UK’s leading trade association for the tech industry has called on the UK government to appoint several specialised digital ministers who will recognise the importance of digital technology's role in rebuilding the nation’s economy in the coming years.
Julian David, chief executive of TechUK
TechUK, a group representing over 850 digital companies, has called for the industry to be represented at the highest level of government in its latest manifesto which also request that more skilled workers should be allowed entry to the country.
The scheme, which will be presented to the government today (Tuesday 16 September), will suggest the creation of ministerial posts chief privacy officer and a new foreign and Commonwealth office 'digital trade tsar'.
This follows Prime Minister David Cameron's appointment of culture secretary Ed Vaisey into his second role of digital minister earlier this year. TechUK commented that the government should enlist a further to individuals in digital roles to ensure that the UK is at the forefront of the "digital revolution".
Furthermore, the UK government has a vacancy in the role of digital champion after Martha Lane Fox, the founder of Lastminute.com stood down from the position at the close of 2013.
Julian David, chief executive of TechUK, said: “Tech and digital have a fundamental role to play in almost everything the next government will need to do, as we continue to rebuild our economy for the 21st century.
“That's why today TechUK is launching its manifesto as a roadmap to 2020. The key message for politicians is that voters and industry alike want the Government to secure our digital future."
David also called for greater grant powers to help secure migrating digital workers. He praised the Entrepreneurs' Visa designed to help tech start-ups but claimed that the UK should be doing more to entice the world’s leading minds in the industry.
The call to recognise the growing importance of digital comes after Amazon last week announced its intention to build an 18-story office near London’s ‘Silicon Roundabout’, in a move which will secure the UK 3,000 new jobs.