There is currently no shortage of organizations that set out to provide not only material support but also a voice for Britain’s digital tech entrepreneurs. Tech Nation, The Digital Economy Council, Innovate UK. All of them - in their own way - deliver on a brief to promote innovation while also promoting the work and interests of startups and scaleups.
So is another organization really necessary? Russ Shaw - founder of Tech London Advocates (TLA) - believes the answer to that question is "yes" and for one very good reason.
“We set up Tech London Advocates about six and a half years ago as an independent organization made up entirely of private sector voices,” he says.
Does the "private sector" angle really matter? Well, as Shaw sees it, TLA can play a crucial role in robustly raising issues and - when necessary - speaking truth to power. Many of the groups that support the tech industry are, to a greater or lesser degree, funded by or have connections with U.K, policymakers. Shelton believes that a solely private sector body can go where bodies with links to policymakers can’t.
The Brexit Problem
He cites the example of Brexit. “Ours was a sector that did not want to leave the European Union,” he asserts. “And we have spoken out about the dangers to the sector of a no-deal Brexit.”
Now, the U.K. government, as it is currently constituted, has a very clear intention that the process of leaving the European Union should be implemented as rapidly as possible, even if it means doing so without a deal. As Shaw sees it, groups with links to government are to some extent constrained from taking any strong public position on the wisdom of leaving or, indeed, leaving without an agreement. As an independent body, Tech London Advocates is free, he says, to represent the views of the majority of its members while also ensuring that the minority who are comfortable with the prospect of Brexit also have their say.
That raises the question of how much influence an industry body can have. In the current political climate, any group that tries to bend the ear of government ministers on the topic of E.U./U.K. relations faces an uphill struggle. For instance, the concerns expressed by the normally highly-influential Confederation of British Industry (CBI) on the negative impact of a no-deal departure from Europe have largely fallen on deaf ears.
Skills Shortages
But Shaw stresses that in addition to making the views of the tech community known, Tech London Advocates can also successfully pursue some very targeted goals.
He cites the example of tech sector skills shortages - a problem for many companies now and likely to become more acute if and when Britain leaves the E.U., when freedom of worker movement ends.
The U.K. already runs a system under which skilled professionals working in areas where there is currently a recognized shortage can come to Britain relatively easily. The list of in demand professions ranges from Doctors and Nurses to chefs. “Digital jobs were not included,” says Shaw. “We successfully campaigned to have them included.”
In terms of immigration issues, Tech London Advocates' work to some extent complements the activities of other groups. For instance, Tech Nation - created as a network for digital entrepreneurs and industry expert - operates a visa system designed to smooth the path of digital talent seeking to come to the U.K.
Going Global
Shaw stresses that while Tech London Advocates is willing to campaign on issues, it is not a “lobby group.” Much of its work is focused on developing the tech sector. To that end, it sets up working groups to address issues ranging from attracting more ethnic minority females into the tech to creating the kind of industry connections that will encourage a greater degree of corporate innovation.
Shaw's other goal is to foster connections between tech hubs, both within the U.K. and globally. To that end, he established Global Tech Advocates. The idea is that tech leaders around the world can create their own local groups under the GTA brand. In addition to addressing their national, city or regional issues they also function as sibling organizations that share information and best practice.
And this week - starting October 14 - a festival in Beijing and Shanghai will see GTA members from around the world coming together. Shaw sees this as an ideal opportunity for entrepreneurs to get to grips with China's marketplace. “China is a difficult market to enter but it becomes easier if you can see how things work on the ground,” he says. To date, there are 4 Tech Advocates in Britain and 14 around the world, in Europe, Australia, the U.S., Asia and Latin America.
At a policymaker level, governments have a tendency to talk up and promote their own tech sectors while seeing hub elsewhere as (at best) competition and (at worst) a threat. In contrast, Shaw believes that the creation of vibrant tech hubs around the world ultimately makes for a stronger global industry. That, he says, will be good for everyone.
2019-10-14 08:31:11Z
https://www.forbes.com/sites/trevorclawson/2019/10/14/truth-to-powerdoes-britains-tech-industry-need-an-independent-advocate/
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