Tech.London: Thoughts from Leaders in Startups & Tech

The Author
Romilly Dennys
Romilly Dennys is the Executive Director of the Coalition for a Digital Economy (Coadec). Coadec provides bespoke government relations and policy support to a UK-wide coalition of tech startups and scale-ups. Romilly works closely with the Government, advising on digital and tech policy and representing the UK-wide voice of the sector in Whitehall, the national media and at speaking events. She has recently completed a new report for Government: A Global Britain, from local startups to international markets, that received widespread cross-Party support and national coverage for its new high-skilled visa proposal. Previously, Romilly was a Government Special Adviser to the Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP at the Department for Work and Pensions.
The digital economy is no laughing matter – this week’s Cabinet endorsement is long overdue.
Despite emerging as a global force, fast-growth tech companies enjoyed no representation at Cabinet before the election, and the policy brief was buried within the Department for Media, Culture and Sport. Yet the stats speak volumes: the digital sector - spanning 12 industries - contributes 16 per cent of GDP, 24 per cent of UK exports, record levels of investment (billions more than the car making or manufacturing sectors) and creates the high-skilled, well-paid jobs the country so...Read more
Romilly Dennys05 Jul 2017
We need a new Digital Secretary in the cabinet to stop the next fatal data hack
In 2015, Tim Kelsey, a former Government NHS tech adviser, told the story of how a doctor said to him: "Patients did not want computers and nor did he." This traditional mindset may explain why in 2015, hospitals across the country still spent more than one million pounds a year carting around records with staff driving around trucks of paper. This is not for a lack of available health tech innovations that are proven to improve care, cut costs and save lives. However, despite their...Read more
Romilly Dennys17 May 2017
Tory Immigration Pledge Will Hurt UK Tech In Face Of Macron’s ‘Grande Marche’
In 2016, a lesser known French Minister told a small crowd of London’s Tech community: "You’re part of this [digital] economic and cultural revolution." Little did we know that Emmanuel Macron was on the cusp of his own ‘Grande Marche’ revolution and his political startup would sweep away the incumbents just over a year later. Yet despite the meteoric rise, Macron still remains focused on seizing "the opportunities of the digital revolution" and he’s eyeing up our best talent to join his...Read more
Romilly Dennys12 May 2017
The Government must put digital jobs at the heart of its industrial strategy
Romilly Dennys, Executive Director of Coadec discusses the importance of digital jobs for the future of Britain's workforce. Britain faces a looming crisis as robots, automation and a clampdown on immigration threatens our workforce. Yet in Westminster, you’re more likely to overhear a debate on the future of grammar schools than the march of the machines. As a nation, we risk falling asleep at the wheel if the Government doesn’t double down on its efforts to boost digital skills training...Read more
Romilly Dennys01 May 2017
A Conservative migration policy must welcome global tech talent
Romilly Dennys, Executive Director of Coadec discusses the importance of high-skilled immigration. It’s said that the Prime Minister didn’t think much of the Conservative 2015 manifesto effort. Echoed by one Minister who went as far to describe it as a "Christmas tree" of a document and "written without any thought to Brexit Britain." Now Brexit Britain is the public reason behind the snap election in seven weeks time, the Prime Minister has clear water to strip back the baubles. Or as...Read more
Romilly Dennys19 Apr 2017

Voices in London

Romilly Dennys

The Author

Romilly Dennys

The digital economy is no laughing matter – this week’s Cabinet endorsement is long overdue.

We need a new Digital Secretary in the cabinet to stop the next fatal data hack

Tory Immigration Pledge Will Hurt UK Tech In Face Of Macron’s ‘Grande Marche’

The Government must put digital jobs at the heart of its industrial strategy

A Conservative migration policy must welcome global tech talent

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