Securing our digital future The techUK manifesto for growth and jobs 2015-2020 Executive summary

#techUKmanifesto

Manifesto | Executive Summary Launched in September 2014, Securing our Digital Future: the techUK manifesto for growth and jobs 2015-2020 urged politicians and policy makers to recognise the critical importance of the global digital revolution for the future of our citizens and our economy. Over the next five years, the UK has the opportunity not just to be a digital leader – but to use digital technologies to address the fundamental long-term social and economic challenges that will determine our future, and that of our children and grandchildren. Over the next five years we can create the conditions for success for the next thirty. By focusing on technology-led innovation, and building on existing strengths and progress already achieved, the next government can put in place the measures necessary to secure our digital future. This includes: • creating the conditions to deliver high quality public services • restoring our productivity • strengthening our ability to create new jobs; and • ensuring a more inclusive and secure society.

This is a manifesto for growth and jobs and it outlines 24 clear and achievable recommendations that the next government should adopt, which fall under four headline objectives: • providing strategy and leadership to deliver success; • securing the UK’s position as a global leader in the production and use of tech; • harnessing the transformational power of tech across the public sector; and • ensuring our digital world is safe and inclusive for all. The UK technology industry is ready to work with the next government, as both an innovative supplier supporting and enabling public sector transformation and a partner in addressing a broad and challenging policy agenda. Working together we can secure our digital future. This is a short summary of Securing our Digital Future: the techUK manifesto for growth and jobs 2015-2020. To download a copy of the full report visit www.techUK.org/techUKmanifesto Follow the debate at #techUKmanifesto

What industry and political leaders say about #techUKmanifesto techUK’s Manifesto has secured positive, supportive endorsement from the three major UK political parties, demonstrating the potential of techUK’s work and highlighting the importance of the UK technology industry to today’s and tomorrow’s society and economy:

“What interests me is how very clear, how very direct, how very ambitious, but how very achievable the recommendations in this manifesto are.” Iain Wright MP, Shadow Business Minister

“This manifesto sets out techUK’s view of the actions that the next government should consider to respond to this opportunity and how it can put digital leadership at the heart of a strategy for economic growth and social change.” Victor Chavez, techUK President and CEO of Thales UK

“I welcome this important report from techUK, in particular the call for a smart migration policy. The UK can’t chase unrealistic targets in trying to reduce in net migration at the expense of growth in the digital economy.” Lord Clement-Jones, Liberal Democrat Peer

“A lot of the recommendations in the techUK manifesto are extremely sensible... In particular the implementation of digital ministers would help overcome the more fragmented approach between departmental IT.” Ed Vaizey MP, Minister of State for Culture and Digital Economy

“Learning from the private sector will be a key factor in the maturity of the UK government’s IT strategy for public sector transformation, and the fact that MPs are recognising the importance of this following the publication of techUK’s manifesto is very encouraging and a clear indication that we’re heading in the right direction.” Dragon’s Den’s Piers Linney, CEO of Outsourcery

Create new jobs

The implementation of an effective digital strategy will

Increase productivity

transformation

• Bring greater scale

•G  reater investment

•C  abinet-Level

• A Chief Privacy Officer.

• Appoint FCO Digital Trade Czar

• Champion the UK’s reputation as a innovator in tech

• Build on the Information Economy Council as the channel for industry commitment

• The appointment of dedicated Digital Ministers in every department

• Modernise financial services.

• Modernise energy

• Strengthen exports support

• Lead in building European Digital Single Market

• Support growth of tech clusters

• Ensure the UK is the best place to start-up and scale up

• Pioneer the Internet of Things

• Increased investment in infrastructure

• More investment in skills and talent

• Maintain C4ISR as a sovereign defence capability.

• Up-skill Local Government

• Address barriers to digital innovation in health and social care

• Single Criminal Justice and Emergency Services technology strategy

• Leverage data analytics

• Build on successful work of Cabinet Office and GDS

and pace to the digitalisation of public services

Greater scale and pace to the process of publicsector sector Public transformation.

Greater investment in the UK’s capacity for innovation; invest in key growth markets and deepen the exploitation of tech across the private sector.

Continued commitment to the highest level of leadership across government and industry.

in science and innovation

Public sector transformation

Excellence in development & use of tech

• Fully fund a comprehensive Digital Inclusion Strategy.

• Empower children to act safely online

• Enhance cyber security and the prevention of cyber crime

• Strengthen democratic oversight of data retention and surveillance

• Protect free speech

• Embed the principle of ‘digital-trust-bydefault’

participation of SMEs in the online economy

•D  ouble the

Need to ensure everyone is included and that the online world is safe and secure for all.

Safe & inclusive digital world

and establish the UK as a world leading digital economy. Strategy & leadership

leadership

Include and empower all

SECURE OUR DIGITAL FUTURE

Reduce long-term debt

In 2015 the new government will need to

techUK is the voice of the companies and technologies that are defining today the world that we will live in tomorrow. More than 850 companies are members of techUK. Collectively they employ more than 500,000 people in the UK. These companies range from leading FTSE 100 companies to new innovative start-ups. The majority of techUK members are small and medium sized businesses. techUK is committed to helping its members and the sector as a whole grow to the benefit of the national economy. We communicate the views of the UK technology industry to policy-makers on major policy issues on behalf of members and ensuring that technology is playing an active role in shaping the UK’s future.

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