1. The Information
Economy Strategy

2. 2
Government Industrial Strategy –
What is it?
• To give confidence for investment and growth in
key sectors
• Long-term and whole of government approach
•Government working in partnership with business

3. 3
Information Economy –
What is it?
• Fast Moving
• Certainly includes Software, IT services, telecoms
but impacts across the whole economy.

4. 4
What Are We Trying to Do?
Vision - thriving UK information economy that
enhances national competitiveness through:
• Strong, innovative sector and businesses
• Organisations and citizens that can use
technology confidently
• Digital infrastructure that supports growth.

5. 5
What is the Information Economy
Council?
• Industry-government partnership – provides strategic
direction and delivers action
• Co-chaired by David Willetts, Minister for Universities and
Science, and Victor Chavez, President of Tech UK and
CEO of Thales UK
•Membership includes Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture,
Communications and Creative Industries, company
representatives (large and small), academia, investors and
other key players in the information economy

6. 6
Information Economy Council’s
Three Working Groups
(1) Business Environment and Confidence
Will identify ways of better measuring the sector; and ,
barriers to scaling up small companies to become
medium or large businesses.

7. 7
Information Economy Council’s
Three Working Groups
(2) Future Technologies and Infrastructure
Two sub groups have been set up to take forward actions: on
data- published a data capability strategy with actions on
skills/capability for future capacity; and on, networks – to
influence international standards including 5G.
Established a Smart Cities Forum to develop and co-ordinate
policy across local and central government.
Its priorities are: Data - Opportunities and Challenges; Mobility
in Cities; Health and Social Care (ageing population); Energy
and Sustainability; and a modern integrated infrastructure.

8. 8
Information Economy Council’s
Three Working Groups
Skills and Capability
This group’s strategic objectives: to develop a world class
pipeline of new tech talent; accelerate the intake of new
recruits into the technology workforce; develop the skills to
succeed in new markets, and enable businesses and
individuals to fully participate in the information economy
Go On UK programme to help SMEs trade online being
piloted in the North East with a proposed roll out later this
year.
Ran a Graduate Skills workshop inviting views from industry,
academia and Government to address digital skills issues.

9. 9
Employer Ownership Pilot
Employer Ownership Pilot - puts the shaping and
commissioning of skills in the hands of business
Industrial Partnership for IE sector - due to launch in March
Supported by around £20m of government funding and
£65m matched funding from industry (subject to negotiation)
Ambition to create over 16,000 new apprenticeships and a
pipeline of 100,000 people more likely to pursue technology
careers, 50% being female.

10. 10
Further Information
• Information Economy Strategy and Council see
http://www.techuk.org
/about/information-economy-council
• Smart Cities see
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/smart-cit