Technology industry leaders have been invited to Parliament in London for a debate on the UK’s digital skills crisis.

Entitled Closing the Tech Skills Gap, the summit is organised by the Parliament Street think tank and chaired by former business minister Dean Russell MP, and will see key figures from Britain’s tech industry gather on the 28th of March to discuss strategies to fill the country’s gaping skills gap.

Key speakers at the event will include tech entrepreneur Alfie Dawson, founder of global SaaS marketing agency Bordeaux & Burgundy, Elizabeth Anderson, Chief Operating Officer of The Digital Poverty Alliance, James Campanini, CEO of AWS reseller VeUP, Sachin Agrawal, Head of Zoho UK and Kate Hawthorn, Director Consultant Talent, FDM Group.

Government data has shown that around 82% of all jobs in the UK list digital skills as a key requirement.

Despite higher salary ranges, employers struggle to fill one-third of vacancies last year due to a lack of digital competency, highlighting a significant discrepancy between skill supply and demand in the UK.

A lack of digital skills is hampering digital transformation and digital adoption for many companies, and a gap in privacy skills is putting organisations at greater risk of cyber crimes and data breaches.

Though more students than ever are choosing computing science degrees, the skills gap was the greatest ever in the UK in 2022.

Recommended

• Women Entrepreneurship: New Scot Gov Report Tackles Gender Barriers
• Soaring Levels of Cyber-crime and Fraud Prompt SBRC Rebrand
• New Climate Change Hub Launched for UK Forestry Sector

Tech companies often have to compete globally to attract and retain talent – high salaries are found to not be enough to keep UK tech workers, as flexible working became a new top priority.

Commenting on the digital skills challenges facing the country, Alfie Dawson, founder of SaaS marketing agency Bordeaux & Burgundy, said, “Tech skills are a key driver in business growth, and it’s absolutely vital that we are upskilling and reskilling workers from all walks of life to meet this growing demand. From the classroom to the boardroom, sharing and developing key skills in areas such as SaaS, coding and cyber should be a top priority for businesses looking to accelerate growth and stay ahead of the competition.”

Get all the latest news from DIGIT direct to your inbox

Our newsletter covers the latest technology and IT news from Scotland and beyond, as well as in-depth features and exclusive interviews with leading figures and rising stars.

To subscribe, click here.