Preparing the UK for the future of work
techUK has set out five key recommendations for government to prepare the UK for the future of work and provide businesses and individuals with the skills and conditions they need to thrive in the digital economy.
techUK is excited to launch the Exploring the Future of Work Series, a programme of events and networking sessions exploring what we consider to be some of the biggest future of work questions facing us today.
Right now, tech businesses are facing ever growing digital skills shortages and talent concerns. As new technologies continue to become more widely adopted, the nature of work will change, and whole new industries and roles will be created. How we enable companies to take advantage of these opportunities and prepare workforces to adapt to these changes are critical policy discussions.
The pandemic has shifted employee expectations around work-life balance and wellbeing, and hastened the adoption of digital technologies as businesses adapt to remain competitive and attract the talent they need. Many tech companies have already adopted hybrid working models, the gig economy and flexible forms of work are growing as an alternative to traditional employment models, and technologies such as AI, data analytics and cloud computing are being increasingly adopted by businesses and other organisations to improve workplace productivity.
The future of work is emerging now, but the benefits of workplace innovation can only be fully realised if businesses and individuals across all sections of the economy and society are empowered with the skills and conditions to thrive in the technology-enabled future of work.
techUK understands that these are not questions that should be answered in a vacuum and we will be joined by speakers from across industry, government, labour organisations, academia, and civil society to discuss what the UK's vision for the future of work should look like and what steps must be taken to deliver it.
You can find the upcoming programme of our events below. Keep your eyes peeled for more events as they are announced and join the conversation by using the hashtag #WorkplaceInnovation across social media.
Upcoming events
Is the 4 day week the future of work? | 22 February 2023
In 2022, 70 UK companies took part in a 4 day week trial and many of these companies are now opting to maintain this working arrangement permanently. Join as we explore the opportunities, challenges, and implications of a shorter working week for the future world of work, and what role technology can play in realising the benefits of a 4-day week.
Global perspectives on the future of work | 28 March 2023
Technology is transforming the world of work but its impact is likely to vary in different countries and regions based on the particular strengths of their economies and stages of development. Join us as explore how the future of work is emerging across the globe and the opportunities and challenges of the 4IR in different economies.
More details and further sessions will be announced over the coming weeks and months, please check back for more information.
Watch recent events on demand
How can we skill tech to reach net zero goals?
Catch up with all of the key insights from techUK's London Tech Week event on the topic of green skills.
Event round-up: How is cloud powering the future of work?
techUK hosted a webinar as part of Cloud Week and our Exploring the Future of Work Series, exploring how cloud is changing the workforce needs of organisations.
Watch on-demand: Lessons on the rise of the gig economy
This panel session explored the rise of the gig economy and its implications for the future workforce, as part of our Exploring the Future of Work Series.
techUK gives evidence to the House of Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Select Committee on post-pandemic economic growth for UK labour markets
The Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee has been examining how artificial intelligence and technology is changing the workplace and what this means for the UK workforce. techUK has provided written evidence and Neil Ross, Associate Director of Policy, gave oral evidence to the inquiry.
Latest news & insights
Preparing for change: How tech parents view education and the future of work
techUK surveyed parents working in tech to find out what they thought the future of work held for their children and how well our education system was preparing them for the jobs and labour market of tomorrow. Tech parents are confident that their children will have good opportunities for interesting and rewarding work as the economy becomes ever more digital, but they are also very clear that having the right skills will be key. Education policy and lifelong learning provision needs to meet the needs of a fast-moving, fast-changing labour market that ensures opportunities for all.
UCL Disruptive Voices podcast - AI and the Future of Work
In this series from UCL, guests share their innovative solutions and ideas for addressing societal challenges, discussing topics from a cross-disciplinary perspective and inspiring and encouraging us to think differently about issues of local, national, and global concern.
This podcast features Professor Rose Luckin, UCL Institute of Education and Nimmi Patel, Policy Manager - Skills, Talent & Diversity at techUK discussing what AI developments could mean for the future of work in the UK and globally, and how we need to redefine our understanding of good work to harness AI’s potential for positive change. Presented by Dr James Paskins.
Related hubs
Jobs and skills
To make sure that the UK is a world-leading digital economy that works for everyone, it is crucial that people have the digital skills needed for life and work. Rapid digitisation is creating surging demand for digital skills across the economy and the current domestic skills pipeline cannot keep up. Digitisation is also leading to rapid changes in the labour market that means some traditional roles are being displaced. There is an urgent need to better match the demand and supply.
Digital economy
The UK tech sector employs over 1.7 million people and adds over £150bn to the UK economy every year. Companies in the digital economy apply their tech and expertise to solve problems and enhance day to day services, providing benefits for consumers across food delivery, health, energy, and many more sectors. At techUK, our aim is to ensure the UK remains one of the best places to start and grow a tech firm with benefits for our people, society, economy and planet.
Emerging technologies
techUK is dedicated to exploring key transformative technologies driving the UK’s digital economy, society and industry through tech and innovation campaigns. Through dedicated events, insights and webinars on technologies such as geospatial data, Edge computing and AR/VR technologies we drive forward opportunities to drive adoption and deployment.
Jake Wall
Nimmi Patel
Sue Daley
Antony Walker
Jake Wall
Jake has been the Policy Manager for Skills and Future of Work since May 2022, supporting techUK's work to empower the UK to skill, attract and retain the brightest global talent, and prepare for the digital transformations of the future workplace.
Previously, Jake was the Programme Assistant for Policy. He joined techUK in March 2019 and has also worked across the EU Exit, International Trade, and Cloud, Data Analytics and AI programmes.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Website:
- www.techuk.org
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/jwwuk
Nimmi Patel
Nimmi Patel is the Head of Skills, Talent and Diversity at techUK.
She works on all things skills, education, and future of work policy, focusing on upskilling and retraining. Nimmi is also an Advisory Board member of Digital Futures at Work Research Centre (digit). The Centre research aims to increase understanding of how digital technologies are changing work and the implications for employers, workers, job seekers and governments. She is also a member of Chatham House's Common Futures Conversations
Prior to joining the team, she worked for the UK Labour Party and New Zealand Labour Party, and holds a BA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of Manchester and is currently studying MA Strategic Communications at King’s College London.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 07805744520
- Twitter:
- @nimmiptl
- Website:
- www.techuk.org
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/nimmi-patel1/
Sue Daley
Sue leads techUK's Technology and Innovation work.
This includes work programmes on cloud, data protection, data analytics, AI, digital ethics, Digital Identity and Internet of Things as well as emerging and transformative technologies and innovation policy. She has been recognised as one of the most influential people in UK tech by Computer Weekly's UKtech50 Longlist and in 2021 was inducted into the Computer Weekly Most Influential Women in UK Tech Hall of Fame. A key influencer in driving forward the data agenda in the UK Sue is co-chair of the UK government's National Data Strategy Forum. As well as being recognised in the UK's Big Data 100 and the Global Top 100 Data Visionaries for 2020 Sue has also been shortlisted for the Milton Keynes Women Leaders Awards and was a judge for the Loebner Prize in AI. In addition to being a regular industry speaker on issues including AI ethics, data protection and cyber security, Sue was recently a judge for the UK Tech 50 and is a regular judge of the annual UK Cloud Awards.
Prior to joining techUK in January 2015 Sue was responsible for Symantec's Government Relations in the UK and Ireland. She has spoken at events including the UK-China Internet Forum in Beijing, UN IGF and European RSA on issues ranging from data usage and privacy, cloud computing and online child safety. Before joining Symantec, Sue was senior policy advisor at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Sue has an BA degree on History and American Studies from Leeds University and a Masters Degree on International Relations and Diplomacy from the University of Birmingham. Sue is a keen sportswoman and in 2016 achieved a lifelong ambition to swim the English Channel.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7331 2055
- Twitter:
- @ChannelSwimSue,@ChannelSwimSue
Antony Walker
Antony Walker is deputy CEO of techUK, which he played a lead role in launching in November 2013.
Antony is a member of the senior leadership team and has overall responsibility for techUK’s policy work. Prior to his appointment in July 2012 Antony was chief executive of the Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG), the UK’s independent advisory group on broadband policy. Antony was closely involved in the development of broadband policy development in the UK since the BSG was established in 2001 and authored several major reports to government. He also led the development of the UK’s world leading Open Internet Code of Practice that addresses the issue of net neutrality in the UK. Prior to setting up the BSG, Antony spent six years working in Brussels for the American Chamber of Commerce following and writing about telecoms issues and as a consultant working on EU social affairs and environmental issues. Antony is a graduate of Aberdeen University and KU Leuven and is also a Policy Fellow Alumni of the Centre for Science and Policy at Cambridge University.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 07780603065
- Twitter:
- @techUKdepCEO
- Website:
- www.techuk.org/
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/antonywalker/
