BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT has today shared its top tech priorities for the new Prime Minister.
Liz Truss has been announced as the new leader of the Conservative Party and the UK’s next prime minister, following a leadership race.
Following the announcement, BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, has urged the new Prime Minister to unlock the potential of technology to reimagine the UK’s approach to fields like health and the economy.
Digital skills are an investment not an overhead
The UK economy needs between 178,000 to 234,000 data roles, with almost half of businesses (46 per cent) struggling to recruit them, according to the government’s Data Skills Gap report.
Our IT workforce underpins our modern world; investing in tech, data, AI and cyber security skills is vital to the UK PLC’s competitiveness. Data is now the driving force of the world’s modern economies, according to the same report.
The Data Science profession is key to economic growth
The Alliance for Data Science Professionals, co-founded by BCS, awarded the first group of data scientists with its new standard this year. Government should work with the Alliance to ensure the UK has a strong pipeline of trusted data scientists to drive growth in the economy.
Computing education and skills are a priority to close the digital divide
Over 90 per cent of parents in England think learning computing at school is important for their child’s future, according to a BCS-YouGov survey.
Teaching AI, Data Science and Cyber Security, starting in primary school, is essential for young people to thrive. The UK needs to double the amount of students leaving school with a high-quality computing qualification, from fewer than 100,000/year now to at least 200,000/year.
Level Up Summit 2022
Don’t miss our Level Up Summit on 06 December, where we’re tackling the barriers for women in tech head on. Join us for keynotes, panels, Q&A’s & breakout sessions on finance, people management, negotiation, influencing skills, confidence building, building internal networks, maximising the power of mentorship, and much more.
Digital technology can secure a sustainable future
The IPCC have stated Net Zero goals can only be achieved with the support of digital technology – we need a transformation in expertise and data analysis to make that difference.
Organisations like the Met Office are leading the way with strategic investment in computing capability. To scale this up across the economy requires government to partner with industry.
Digital healthcare will transform patient outcomes
The government’s Plan for Digital Health and Social Care states expert digital skills are needed throughout all healthcare professions.
The government can best grow a community of competent, trusted digital health professionals by working with the Federation of Informatics Professionals (FEDIP).
Crucially, online safety, privacy and trust need a fundamental review
Only 14 per cent of tech professionals believe the Online Safety Bill is ‘fit for purpose’, according to a poll of BCS members; and 58 per cent feel the bill would have a negative effect on freedom of speech. IT professionals are committed to building a safe online world, with a focus on education and guidance alongside proportionate regulation.
A third of all businesses lack the advanced cyber security skills they needed to keep safe. We need cyber security practitioners who are professionally registered, and whenever possible be Chartered. BCS welcomes the government’s ambition to embed high standards of professional practice and career pathways across cyber security.
Half (53 per cent) of UK adults have no faith in the use of algorithms to make judgements about them, according to BCS polling, conducted with YouGov. Improving understanding of AI and algorithms by policy makers and growing public technology trust is a priority.
