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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: 4, Insightful) by bradley13 on Wednesday December 07 2016, @04:05PM
Please allow me to translate...
"...government to act to ensure a continued flow of skilled migrants"
Translation: "We missed the point of the Brexit". What's wrong with leaving British citizens unemployed, while we import cheap labour from elsewhere.
"UK startups require a commitment from the government that the investment drive of the last few years will continue"
Translation: "We also want to continue sucking at the government teat", because our startups unable to compete on their own merits.
Everyone is somebody else's weirdo.
(Score: 2) by lizardloop on Wednesday December 07 2016, @04:31PM
Couldn't agree more. There are lots and lots of very talented British software developers and I see them continuously being replaced by just as talented Polish and Ukrainian developers who are marginally cheaper.
Captains of industry love to bang on about a shortage of talent. What they mean is "we need more people slitting each others throats for the few jobs that are left".
I do have some concerns that a number of companies may choose not to open facilities here if we end up isolated from the rest of the world but I think that may be outweighed by the new difficulties of being able to hire cheaper talent from abroad.
I think this was something that the remain campaign really struggled to grasp. Most people expect the British government to look after the interests of British citizens. You could make a case that open borders are in our interests but it's a damn hard sell round most places I know.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 07 2016, @11:28PM
There is truth in what you say, but I find myself employed in an industry that couldn't exist without the free flow of money, goods, labour and ideas because it's highly specialised, at the "cutting edge" of technology and requires the best people from across an entire continent, and sometimes the world. I've been downsized and outsourced to India during my career too.
90% of our problems in the UK are caused by the seemingly endless Tory governments we keep electing,