Leading tech industry bodies launch London Tech Manifesto for Mayoral elections
On 20 April 2021, some of the UK’s leading tech industry bodies launched the London Tech Manifesto, calling on the new Mayor of London to champion the city’s tech companies. techUK, alongside other leading industry voices, helped shape the recommendations and outline a roadmap to continue the growth of London’s tech companies and ensure the city is fully embracing the opportunities of tech. You can read the full Manifesto and recommendations here.
COVID-19 has had an unprecedented impact across our communities and local economies. It has also shown the power of technology in keeping communities connected, enabling public services to continue and businesses to run and adapt in this new normal. London’s technology sector has shown its remarkable resilience during the pandemic, attracting a record £8.6bn in investment last year – more than any single country in Europe. We are facing a digital future.
The Manifesto sets out how the next Mayor of London can build on London’s digital strengths and position itself as a truly global tech leader. Recommendations include supporting tech companies in the city’s post-pandemic economic recovery, increase investment in digital skills, diversity and digital infrastructure. There is a strong focus on the importance of talent and diversity in tech – an industry with the potential to address London’s growing unemployment crisis as demand for tech jobs continues to outstrip supply. That is why we are calling for a Diversity Tsar to be implemented alongside London’s Chief Digital Officer. Beyond London, it encourages the new Mayor to stimulate cross-city collaboration across the UK by working closely with the country’s city mayors.
Since the last Mayoral elections, several recommendations from the 2016 Manifesto have be implemented by Sadiq Khan’s administration. Most notably the appointment of London’s first ever Chief Digital Officer, alongside the creation of the London Office for Technology and Innovation and the championing of collaboration across the govtech ecosystem with the launch of the Civic Innovation Challenge.
The next Mayor can unlock the full potential of data for London, optimising the value of data for London, ethically and responsibly. The London Datastore is a great success story, and one the Mayor can build on by setting out a clear data vision for London, creating solutions that improve outcomes of all Londoners and stimulate growth.
Commenting on the London Tech Manifesto, techUK’s Deputy CEO Antony Walker:
“The COVID-19 pandemic is a historic challenge, not just to our health and economy, but to build a fairer and more inclusive London in the aftermath. Technology can play a vital role in this by helping redesign the way we approach work, train our workforce and deliver our public services. Since the last Mayoral election, the creation of London’s first Chief Digital Officer, the launch of the Civic Innovation Challenge and creation of the London Office of Technology and Innovation, have played a key role in cementing London’s position as a true global leader in tech. The 2021 election promises an even greater reward, with the ideas presented in the manifesto providing a pathway to utilise technology and innovation to position London as the most attractive and liveable capital in the world.”
Read the full Manifesto and recommendations here.
Antony Walker
Antony Walker is deputy CEO of techUK, which he played a lead role in launching in November 2013.
Margherita Certo
Margherita is the Head of Press and Media at techUK, working across all communications and marketing activities and acting as the point of contact for media enquiries.
Georgina Maratheftis
Georgina is techUK’s Associate Director for Local Public Services
