Is technological skills deficit harming UK plc?
The House of Lords' Digital Skills Committee will tomorrow ask the question ‘Do our businesses have what it takes to excel in a knowledge-driven economy?'
On Tuesday 29 July the Committee will hear from campaigners for digital start-ups, the voice of SMEs in the UK and the country's tech sector.
The Committee will ask them whether rapidly changing technology trends are creating barriers for businesses, whether businesses' tech skills are falling behind, how the UK's infrastructure can be improved, and whether the end result of these challenges is damaging to the UK economy.
The witnesses giving evidence will be: Guy Levin, Executive Director, Coalition for a Digital Economy (Coadec); David Pollard, Chairman for Education, Skills and Business Support, Federation of Small Businesses (FSB); and Antony Walker, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, techUK.
Questions that the Committee will put to the witnesses are:
- Which technology trends will have the highest impact on UK businesses?
- How have these trends differed from those in the past?
- Are there any examples of technological trends which have affected the workforce of companies in the UK?
- What will be the impact of entrepreneurship on the labour market?
- How can the digital sector be supported?
The evidence session will take place in Committee Room 2 on Tuesday 29 July, starting at 10:15am.
The session will be webcast at www.parliamentlive.tv and is also open to the public. Journalists wishing to attend should go to Parliament's Cromwell Green Entrance and should allow time for security screening.
