'Five things for Jeremy to get Wright'

Following a series of notable resignations, Theresa May announced a wave of new appointments that saw Matt Hancock join the Health department, and Jeremy Wright step into his new role as Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

For some, the reshuffle was another sign of the troublesome time the Prime Minister is having trying to unite her own party around Brexit negotiations. Yet, it is important to recognize that the changing of the guard is an essential and defining part of our democracy, and done right can avoid hurting businesses.

Matt Hancock’s departure from DCMS has left some big shoes to fill and many in the tech sector were sorry to see him move on, yet fresh figureheads can often breathe new leases of life into government departments, eliminate political fatigue and bring innovative ideas.

Jeremy Wright now has the opportunity to help cement the UK’s position as a world-leading digital economy and put the tech sector top of the agenda as the government navigates Brexit.

To date, having been in the post for a very limited amount of time, the Minister has made a good first impression with the tech community. Jeremy Wright has moved fast, bringing leading figures together to discuss key priorities - giving great confidence in his leadership.

Yet, there are now five things that he has to get right.

1. Engagement

A priority for the Minister must be to engage with the tech community and listen to the challenges that are being faced by the private sector, issues around talent, immigration policy and investment remain prevalent. 

It is vital that during the early stages of his tenure he uses his post to convene investors, entrepreneurs, and business leaders from across the community.

Asking the right questions and showing a willingness to listen is key, and the Minister should recognise and utilise the community’s great grassroots insight that can quickly help fill the gaps left, as Matt’s expertise moves onto the Health department. 

2. Diversity

Matt Hancock was a strong supporter of the Tech Talent Charter and committed government funding to the initiative that is helping to address the critical and worrisome gender imbalance in UK tech companies. 

Under representation is one of the most pressing issues that the tech sector faces, and it requires action from both the public and private sector. We must work together to ensure that tech companies are environments where all individuals can thrive, regardless of gender, race, sexuality, ethnicity, ability or religion.

The Minister must continue the great work of his predecessor in ensuring that commitments to diversity are maintained and accelerated.

3. Digital Skills

Talent is the lifeblood of the tech sector, if the UK’s digital economy is to remain at the forefront of global innovation that businesses need access to the brightest and best.

British companies must be free to recruit from both domestic and international talent pools. A combination of both home-grown and skilled overseas workers is critical if supply is to meet demand. 

Jeremy must have an eye for the long-term, and a key solution to the digital skills gap over the next 10 years is going to be education. School leavers and graduate students must be entering the workplace with the skills that are being demanded by the modern economy. As digitalisation transforms traditional industries, the need for coders, engineers, product managers, user interface designers and data analysts is only going to grow.  

DCMS has shown a willingness to act, and last year Matt Hancock launched the Digital Skills Partnership to ensure that communities up and down the country are engaged and looking at digital skills training, upskilling, reskilling and best practices. Margot James MP has been playing an active role leading this group - the new Minister, Jeremy Wright should endorse this vital initiative.

4. Finance for growth

As DCMS Secretary, the Minister must be ever present in the tech ecosystem and support the investment landscape – ensuring the sector has multiple channels to secure capital for growth.  

This engagement can work to join the dots and go hand-in-hand with the reforms being led by the Chancellor of the Exchequer following the release of the Treasury’s Patient Capital Review last year.

Ambitious entrepreneurs looking to scale early stage ventures should be supported by policymaking and the infrastructure in attracting capital. In the global economy where capital is highly mobile, and competition is rife, the UK as a thriving tech hub must remain an attractive destination for investors to put their money.

The government has an important role to play here and can take inspiration from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) when it comes to creating a progressive regulatory environment for disruptive tech.  

5. The voice of the tech sector

It is an unfortunate truth that the public perception of tech is a mixed one – the Minister can work with wider government to help restore faith. Jeremy Wright can be an important voice of the tech community and champion the ingenuity, creativity and ambition which has driven the UK’s fastest growing sector to new heights.

The Minister is in a unique position to send an important message and help convey the industry’s immense potential as an agent for social good. He must be a public and outspoken champion of tech. 

Adhering to these five key objectives will help guild the Minister on the right trajectory, supporting the UK in becoming a truly global, digital nation that lines up with some of the strongest economies in the world, who equally understand the importance and value of a thriving tech sector.