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<p>London is the tech capital of Europe. The Government has played a key part in its
success. It supports Tech City UK which delivers support services and programmes to
tech businesses in London and UK-wide. London and Partners promotes the London wide
tech sector, working on behalf of the Mayor of London and other commercial partners,
including Tech City for which it took over specific responsibility in April this year.</p><p>
</p><p>Technology companies in London will benefit from a range of government funding
such as the:</p><p> </p><p>• recently announced 5m funding (£2m in 2015/2016 and a
provisional allocation of £3m in 2016/17) for a pilot digital skills programme to
be run by the London Enterprise Panel as part of the London Growth Deal.</p><p> </p><p>•
A new Digital Catapult, located in King’s Cross, with £50m over 5 years to provide
tech companies with access to expertise and enable them to develop new products and
services.</p><p> </p><p>• £40K, this financial year, for Tech City UK’s Future Fifty
Programme. Of the 50 tech companies, 37 of them are headquartered in London.</p><p>
</p><p>• £400K this financial year for Tech City UK’s Digital Business Academy - an
online training programme to ensure everyone has the much needed digital skills.</p><p>
</p><p>We will have the lowest corporation tax rate in the G7 from next year. Technology
companies can also benefit from other tax incentives such as the Patent Box, which
can give an effective 10% tax rate for qualifying net revenue arising from EU or UK
registered patents, R&D tax credits, the Enterprise Investment Scheme and the
Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme.</p><p> </p><p>The Government launched the new computing
curriculum in September 2014, to ensure a pipeline of digitally skilled individuals.
£3.5m of funding has been provided to ensure teachers have the skills to teach the
curriculum and there are a number of coding clubs available in London schools, to
inspire young people about the career opportunities digital skills provide.</p><p>
</p><p>There is also good work at a local level, for example, Camden Council has started
to set up code clubs in schools, see the following link: <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/local-government-network/2013/sep/02/camden-council-pioneers-coding-in-schools"
target="_blank">http://www.theguardian.com/local-government-network/2013/sep/02/camden-council-pioneers-coding-in-schools</a></p><p>
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