Having attended London Tech Week for several years running, I’ve had a ringside seat on how the event and delegate list has grown in size and confidence as the UK capital has cemented itself as a tech hub for startups, enterprise, investment and talent.
It is disappointing, however, to hear the recurring frustrations with our visa system that risk holding back rather than enabling more tech success stories.
A poll of foreign tech entrepreneurs that my firm conducted during London Tech Week found they rated the UK as an attractive location for tech ventures on many fronts such as access to investors. But sadly, not for our visa system.
Moreover, unless the next government does more to support rather than hamper tech businesses wanting to bring in overseas talent, there is a danger of our immigration system becoming a real deterrent for tech entrepreneurs and business owners....