Entrepreneurs call for training to protect London’s tech sector

Entrepreneurs have called for action to be taken to protect London’s status in the tech sector following the UK’s exit from the EU.

Business leaders who supported a Remain vote have spoken out, discussing the importance of providing training to address skills gaps in the sector.

Difficult

Several tech companies expressed their concern before the results of the referendum, with a study by Juniper Research showing that over 60 per cent of businesses believed that the industry would be affected by a Brexit.

Seven in ten companies believed that an exit from the EU would make it more difficult for the UK’s tech companies to attract skilled continental staff, whilst two-thirds said that the tech industry would suffer as a result of reduced EU funding and that London would become a less attractive tech hub.

Important

Several companies have now called for action to protect London’s role in the tech sector, with tech start-up company Hire Space stating that the city needs to be protected by “addressing skills gaps in the sector through investment in training and development.”

Hire Space Co-Founder and Remain supporter Edward Poland said that access to top talent, particularly in technology roles, is “hugely important” for any growing company.

“The next 18 months is going to be instructive in terms of how we recruit and retain top talent. We employ six continental staff and have benefited from the free movement of workers,” he said.

Poland stated that he would stay positive, adding that the events industry is “ripe for innovation.”