28 Feb 2019

Skills, talent and diversity podcast

This month’s podcast looks at the issue of skills – both for now and in the future. The UK suffers from a digital skills gap that is estimated to cost us £63bn in lost GDP ever year, the big question is how can we close this gap and ensure that in doing so we increase the diversity of a sector as a whole.

Vinous Ali, techUK’s Head of Policy takes the mic to speak to Sarah Atkinson, Chair of techUK’s Skills & Diversity Council to find out why increasing diversity as we close the gap is so important (0:25 - 10:18). She also explores techUK’s own programmes and events on these issues with Head of Cyber, Talal Rajab (10:34 - 18:26) and Head of Public Sector Henry Rex (30:10 - 36:51). The podcast also features a piece on techUK’s recent report – Preparing for the Future, which examines how parents working in the tech sector think today’s curriculum needs to change to match the needs of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (18:28 - 30:03).

We also hear from our President Jacqueline de Rojas, interviewed by techUK work experience student – Abi Pearson, on what the barriers are to women entering the tech sector and how we can create more inclusive workplaces and business (36:52 - 45:03).