| answer text |
<p>Government’s Digital Strategy includes plans to boost the nation’s digital skills,
infrastructure and innovation, and aims to make the UK the best place to invest in
tech.</p><p>My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media
and Sport has now chaired two meetings of the Digital Economy Council, which brings
together government and leaders from the tech sector. The Council will drive progress
on the Digital Strategy, such as stimulating growth and delivering new jobs in the
digital economy. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Digital will be chairing
his second Digital Economy Advisory Group at the end of the year. The Advisory Group
specifically focusses on supporting the tech sectors and helping innovation. Both
groups will focus on the implementation of the Digital Strategy, along with feeding
into the development of the Digital Charter. Membership of these groups is varied
and includes: TechUK, Google, BT, Raspberry Pi and Entreprenuer First. Full membership
details can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/digital-economy-council-and-digital-economy-advisory-group"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/digital-economy-council-and-digital-economy-advisory-group</a></p><p>Actions
we are already taking include launching <a href="https://www.great.gov.uk/" target="_blank">GREAT.gov.uk</a>,
a new digital trade hub to help businesses export, which provides advice and support
to current and potential exporters. This includes access to a smart database to connect
them with global online marketplaces such as Amazon and Alibaba. We have also negotiated
preferential rates with key e-marketplaces, making the UK one of the easiest and best
places from which to sell goods online around the world. We are delivering promotions
in key overseas markets to promote UK companies on these marketplaces.</p><p>The Digital
Business Academy is a free online platform created by Tech City UK, to provide the
skills needed to start, grow or join a digital business. Currently there are 11 courses
available created by University College London, Cambridge University Judge Business
School, Founder Centric and Valuable Content. Almost 20% of the academy graduates
report that they are starting digital companies after finishing at least one skill.
TCUK (and Tech North) have received approx £16 million from government over the last
7 years.</p><p>I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave today to Question UIN
111926 where I have highlighted our current period of analysis of the recommendations
put forward by two very recent reviews – the government review of Artificial Intelligence
and the industry-led Made Smarter Review of industrial digitalisation.</p>
|
|
