techUK in conversation with Chancellor Rishi Sunak
In the interview, they explore how ‘every job is a tech job’ and what actions the UK needs to take to democratise and demystify the tech industry so that everyone can see a career in tech as one for them. Our economic recovery must be an inclusive one and tech can play a key role in building a levelled-up economy.
Speaking about the skills needed to succeed in the tech industry, Jacqueline backed alternative routes and said it was important to “demystify technology” for young people and women.
Jacqueline explained: “The dynamic that's helping is that we need skills really fast. When you put that dynamic together with traineeships and apprenticeships, what you find is you get people who can learn and also start to contribute to industry much faster than if they were going through the traditional university route."
The Chancellor, who has supported apprenticeships and traineeships through his Plan for Jobs, said: “One of the great things that has happened is people are increasingly seeing apprenticeships as a fantastic high-quality route.
"And then the next bit is changing people's perception… it's not just for particular types of jobs because they have in their head apprenticeships in the old days and this type of industry… we're seeing now, whether it's Microsoft, whether it's smaller businesses, the apprenticeship route used to bring young people into the industry.”
The Chancellor and Jacqueline also discussed how techUK and the Treasury are working together particularly to support smaller businesses adopt new technologies through the new ‘Help to Grow: Digital’ scheme announced in the March Budget. Jacqueline stressed that it was important to incentivise small businesses to make use of technology, particularly through the adoption of software services such utilising cloud technologies.
They go on to cover how learning to fail is important for innovation and is part of leadership in any ambiguous or uncertain environment. Jacqueline pointed to tech hubs in Israel as an example, where they won't invest in any founder unless they have failed two or three times already.
Jacqueline de Rojas CBE
techUK Board Member and President Emeritus | Chair Bletchley Park Trust & Chair Institute of Coding | Portfolio Non Exec Director, Business Mentor and Advocate for Inclusion.