SECTOR FOCUS

an open regulatory environment, home- grown UK ICT companies have taken their place as global players, while inward investment has fl owed in from overseas. “The ICT sector is one of the largest wealth creators in the UK,” says John Davies, global strategy and technology adviser at UK Trade & Investment. “It has been one of the fastest-growing sectors over the last decade.”

SECTOR STRENGTHS

The UK has an abundance of expertise and experience across a broad range of ICT disciplines – know-how that is in great demand in overseas markets. “Following a recent sector prioritisation review, we have identifi ed the areas that currently hold the most promise for UK ICT exporters,” says Davies. “On the technical side, these are mobile wireless communications, electronics and electronics products, consumer electronics and enterprise systems. On the applications side, core areas include e-fi nance, e-government, retail and logistics, and e-health. We have world-leading companies in all of these fi elds.”

He continues: “Key technologies that have emerged in the UK over the past few years include things like cloud computing platforms, machine-to- machine technologies and ‘Internet of Things’ applications.

“The ongoing convergence of IT, computing, broadcasting and the creative industries has also brought forward a vibrant digital media sector in the UK – as exemplifi ed by the Tech City initiative, which aims to make east London the digital capital of Europe.” Although these have been identifi ed as the most marketable areas of UK ICT capability at present, Davies says that the picture is far from static. “It’s important to remember that the UK’s ICT landscape is continually changing, responding to different needs,” he states. “Commercial markets are developing and new technologies are emerging all the time. Our ICT industry is challenge-led; engineering and innovation skills are developed around specifi c challenges

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rather than, necessarily, around particular specialisations.”

Stephen McGowan, head of operations for UK Trade & Investment’s ICT team, adds: “The UK is particularly good at early adoption and innovation, which means that we are at the vanguard of developing new technologies and their convergence outcome. We’re often at the very front end of developing the regulations and standards of technologies and then working with international partners to take them forward.”

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THE UK has the second-largest ICT sector in Europe, valued at some £81bn

TECHNOLOGY designed by UK companies is present in the vast majority of handheld communications devices

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GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES Such is the UK ICT sector’s wide-ranging expertise that global markets offer a potential embarrassment of riches. “There are opportunities all over the world for the UK’s ICT companies,” says McGowan. “There is a huge appetite for what they are doing. A lot of UK ICT fi rms are born global and are committed to exporting right from day one. Often they don’t have an actual product, but rather a prototype or idea they can take overseas for development and application. The UK also has a great track record in attracting high-quality inward ICT investment.”

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THINGS YOU NEED TO

AROUND 27 PER CENT of UK jobs are ICT related, the highest percentage in the G20