techUK responds to Prime Minister's conference speech

6 Oct 2020 03:15 PM

In his speech to the 2020 Conservative Party Conference Prime Minister Boris Johnson set out his vision for the UK’s recovery from the Coronavirus crisis.

As well as commitments to a £160m investment in offshore wind, supporting first time buyers and delivering on manifesto commitments from the Conservative Party's 2019 manifesto the Prime Minister set out a vision of the UK in 2030 underpinned by key advancements in the UK’s digital economy.

This included the development of Digital IDs, the widespread use of electric and hydrogen vehicles, gigabit broadband, a working from home revolution and pioneering innovation in tech and data.

Responding to the PM's speech CEO of techUK Julian David yesterday said:

“techUK and our members would endorse the Prime Minister’s vision of a tech powered Britain where the deployment of Digital IDs, electric vehicles, gigabit broadband and innovative new approaches to tech and data support a high skilled and high living standard Britain.

“However in order to fulfil this vision we must begin the hard work now to prepare for what comes next.

“This means building on the jobs and skills packages announced by the Government to meet the digital skills gap, ensuring SMEs across the UK have the support they need to build resilient and productive new business models through tech adoption, and supporting innovative UK firms through investment in R&D with a focus on late stage development and the commercialisation of cutting edge new products and services.

“techUK will work with the Government through the upcoming Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR), next UK Government Budget, Digital Strategy and National Data Strategy to support a fiscal and regulatory approach that will underpin a strong digital led economic recovery to deliver on this ambitious vision for a tech powered Britain.”