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London's standing as Europe's leading destination for tech start-ups is at risk if the British government does not clarify how it plans to keep the best technical talent, entrepreneurs and investors have warned.
In an open letter to Prime Minister Theresa May, nine leading UK-based technology entrepreneurs and investors, including Skype co-founder Niklas Zennstrom, pressed the government to act to ensure a continued flow of skilled migrants after Britain leaves the European Union. It also called on the government to address EU market access and other issues.
From the letter, posted at TechCrunch:
UK startups require a commitment from the government that the investment drive of the last few years will continue in order for UK startups to maintain their lead in many areas. It is important for all the UK's business sectors that the tech sector continues to flourish, since all business now runs on and is affected by technology.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by AssCork on Wednesday December 07 2016, @02:42PM
Nine leading UK-based technology entrepreneurs and investors, [...] pressed the government to act to ensure a continued flow of skilled migrants after Britain leaves the European Union
(Emphasis added)
So the old "We can't find anyone local who can do the job (for the absolute minimum we can get away with paying)" argument jumps from the U.S. to the U.K?
Perhaps they could start a visa program to let people in for IT-related jobs, maybe they could even come up with a better name than "H-1B"?
I think "FOTL-2" (F*ck Over The Locals, Version 2) has a nice ring to it.
NOTE: The U.K. gov't and it's agents may use the above name after contacting me for transaction details. Payment in the form of BitCoins or sassy brit lasses is expected in advance.
Just popped-out of a tight spot. Came out mostly clean, too.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Webweasel on Wednesday December 07 2016, @04:18PM
Its been true for years.
60% of my dev department is Indian (none are UK born)
10% are from Eastern Europe
30% are local UK
Funny though, I don't see anyone but UK whites in sysadmin roles, only immigration seems to be in development or UAT roles, but never sysadmin.
So, EU immigration is a minor part of the whole. But we do have a skills shortage, I have been interviewing people and can draw one conclusion: Most IT people are shit at their jobs but arrogant enough to think they are good. Question them for 5 mins and you find out they have been coasting for their entire lives. UK staff are a real mixed bag, we have some great people, but we have a lot of shit people.
I can't square the circle. I can't find a job paying me better outside of London. The company pays me stupid overtime for silly hours, but we can't get the staff because we don't pay enough. It's enough to tear your hair out in frustration.
Ill keep my stupid overtime I think......
Priyom.org Number stations, Russian Military radio. "You are a bad, bad man. Do you have any other virtues?"-Runaway1956
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 07 2016, @07:25PM
Gotta make the best of it I guess.
But there is one thing money can't buy: time.
The best you can do is give away your money so someone else can do some of the chores for you. Lawn maintenance, home cleaning, shopping/cooking. But then again, you have to be on the stupidly high salary scale to afford the things that will REALLY save you time. Instead we trade our literal lives (time) for money, and that is if you're lucky!! hahahahha... ha... heh... uggggh.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 07 2016, @08:53PM
Speaking as someone who moved to France, this is how I made the trade off.
I recently counted my ("paid") days off so far this year - excluding "bank holidays" and national holidays: 44 days. I will add from 22 Dec to 4th Jan to that. So let's round up to 50. Excluding days that "everyone" gets off.
Sure my after tax pay is about 1/2 what I got in the US. But this is time now. To do things I'm interested in now. Not putting aside life now for some future return.
Play an instrument? Do sports? Martial arts? Learn a language? Don't risk it, keep working 50 weeks a year. You'll reap in back at age 70 in LUXURY. Pfft.
The time that I get here is not possible in the US in my job which was full-time only with no part-time option. Someone will tell me I should be a contractor. Well tell everyone in the US they should be contractors.