Business: ICT

(asked on 3rd November 2017) - View Source

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government is taking to ensure digital transformation programmes are affordable for (a) small and medium-sized enterprises and (b) charities.


Answered by
 Portrait
Claire Perry
This question was answered on 13th November 2017

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.

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 leaders from the tech sector with government. The Council will drive progress on the Digital Strategy, such as stimulating growth and delivering new jobs in the digital economy. 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 are varied and include: TechUK, Google, BT, Raspberry Pi and Entreprenuer First. Full membership detailes can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/digital-economy-council-and-digital-economy-advisory-group

Actions we are already taking include launching GREAT.gov.uk, 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.

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.

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