With tech predicted to account for 10% of the UK’s GDP in the next 5 years, there’s never been a more important time for the sector to engage with government.
Coadec is a not-for-profit based in London with a mission to be the much-needed policy voice for Britain’s digital economy. After its former executive director Sara Kelly joined the Greater London Assembly as a senior policy advisor, it lay dormant for some time.
But under the new leadership of Guy Levin, who has years of Whitehall experience behind him, the body is now being relaunched.
Community engagement
The lobby group currently boasts 800 members. According to Levin, they will crowdsource ideas, launch startup manifestos, hold workshops, build social media reach – doing what it takes to communicate the needs of startups.
I want it to be a bottom-up, grassroots-style, idea generation.
Coadec is a national organisation. London has always been the heart, but there are fantastic clusters outside the city – in Edinburgh, Bristol, Brighton – we want policy designed from around the country.
Levin says that startups need every bit of cash to grow their business, so unlike most conventional trade organisations, Coadec does not charge a joining fee.
Coadec’s key campaigns
Levin says he always gets asked what he would do first if he had a magic wand. He argues that, in actual fact, London is already a great place for startups: what need addressing are the deeper issues that could stifle growth in the future.
Limited access to talent is one of the biggest challenges startups are facing
He believes the long-term answer to this is education, and in response the government has already started programmes such as coding clubs in schools.
But in the 5-10 years before those students enter the industry, tech could use a leg up. In the short-term, Levin is campaigning for immigration reform, which he argues is crucial to startup growth.
Other issues such as data protection, net neutrality and privacy are also areas that Levin is keen to highlight.
Who’s backing them?
Google have been one of their biggest supports. TechHub, Yahoo!, TechCrunch and other major sponsors are also backing the group.
But Levin insists that they will remain independent of its corporate sponsors.
We are open about who funds us. We did that to make ourselves truly open to startups who may not be able to pay membership fees.
But if there are differences in policy or issues we disagree on, we will say so.
London’s virtuous circle
Levin says London’s startup scene has reached a critical point, with what he refers to as a ‘virtuous circle’ beginning to emerge.
With major startups like JustEat and King taking to the stockmarkets, the early pioneers are now starting to invest in the next generation to take the ecosystem to the next level.
Guy Levin will also join Tech City News as a regular policy columnist. Look out for his first piece later this afternoon.