Digital Brain Drain Britain

Digital Brain Drain Britain PR Newswire LONDON, August 29, 2012 LONDON, August 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, the chancellor, George Osborne, vowed that the UK would become the "technology centre of Europe" at the opening of the new Google Campus in the Silicon Roundabout area in London. The chancellor suggested that the new Google Campus in London, which offers desk space and mentoring for technology companies, will help "create the next generation of British technologies". In doing so he rekindled the debate about the UK's ability to create a global tech start-up hub to rival Silicon Valley. Any move to foster a greater number of tech start-ups in the UK should be applauded. But is Britain really in the right shape to be this ambitious? Do we have the right talent to support this infrastructure in the first place? The Drum magazine editor Gordon Young argues that there is an issue cultivating talent in the UK. "There is a serious skill shortage which is the major impediment to its growth," says Young. "There is also a culture in education -- which tends to mean it is very slow in terms course developments -- means that graduates are not always fully prepared for this fast developing sector." Bima chairman, Justin Cooke agrees. He says that homegrown talent is alive and kicking but often lacks the support that it desperately needs. "There is a plethora of digital talent across the length and breadth of Britain," says Cooke.