WIREDGOV

How techUK and its member are helping the fight against the virus.

In a few short months, our lives have been turned upside down by the COVID-19 pandemic. The human toll has been immense, and no one yet has a clear view on what the future really holds. Yet, rarely have so many stepped forward to lend their shoulder to make a difference.  

As the tech trade association, we are working with members to play our part in three ways. This is our Respond, Adapt, Recover strategy:

• Responding to the immediate needs of the public health crisis
• Adapting to the impact of a society going into lockdown
• And supporting the rapid economic recovery and reinvention needed for all.

Respond

Tech companies large and small immediately stepped up to help and techUK has been working to support in the fight against the virus. People and resources have mobilised to build tools and technology to support the healthcare frontline. The Government believes we have now passed the peak of infections but the health and social care frontline must continue to manage the impact for many months to come and continue to need the sector’s support and innovation.

Tech is also playing a central role in helping to reduce the reproduction rate of the virus as we plan to exit the lockdown while maintaining social distancing. Meanwhile technologies like AI are playing a key role in vaccine development, improving medical treatments and protocols for COVID-19.

Adapt

techUK is helping Government, businesses and civil society adapt to the impact of the lockdown and social distancing measures. We engage daily with Ministers and Government departments to support the flow of information to the sector.

An immediate priority was to ensure the resilience of our digital and data infrastructure through the lockdown to help keep society going. techUK worked with members and DCMS to ensure the operational resilience of data centers and with telecoms companies to help the nation stay connected.

We have also worked with Local Government to understand their requirements and coordinate offers of help and support from tech businesses as they provide public services during this time.

As businesses adapt, we are working with government to help shape and refine its business support measures to ensure they are fit for purpose in a fast-changing economic environment.

Further to this, we are working with members and Government to help keep communities going – from working with the Department for Education on a new skills platform to providing the tech so those in isolation can stay connected. 

Recover and reinvent

There will be huge challenges in restarting the economy and many sectors may look very different. Tech can play its part as we consider the longer-term implications of the pandemic. For many households, businesses and organisations, lockdown has dramatically accelerated digitisation – a trend that is likely to continue. We are working with members to explore how this may lead to a fundamental reinvention of how we live and work – from global supply chains to the remote provision of healthcare.

Effective use of technology is likely to play a central role in our global economic recovery. As we embark on this recovery, techUK and its members will be working tirelessly to build the future we need that supports businesses and societies up and down the country.

Visit the techUK COVID-19 hub for more guidance and information on how we are supporting businesses, the Government and citizens during this crisis.