An award-winning IT company says major funding for the development of AI – announced in the Government’s Spending Review – is vital to create a much-needed talent pipeline for the future.
The Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed an additional £2bn would be made available for the national AI Opportunities Action Plan. The flagship strategy aims to encourage the widespread implementation of automation in the private and public sector.
Ms Reeves pledged to back “home-grown AI,” adding that the technology has the potential to “solve diverse and daunting challenges” and create “good jobs.”
The news was welcomed by Lee Hewson, the Managing Director of the East Midlands-based IT and Cyber Security Specialists, Your IT Department.
“As a business at the forefront of digital transformation, we see first-hand the immense potential of AI to drive productivity and innovation,” said Mr Hewson.
“However, one of the biggest challenges we face is finding people with the right AI skills. Demand continues to outstrip supply, pushing up salaries and, inevitably, the cost of delivering these services.
“This investment is a vital step towards building the talent pipeline the UK needs to remain competitive and ensure that businesses like ours can continue to grow, innovate, and deliver value to our clients.”
In addition to the AI funding, the Spending Review confirmed that the NHS technology budget would be increased by almost 50%. Mr Hewson described this as encouraging.
He explained: “In light of recent high-profile cyber-attacks, this investment must prioritise security – starting with replacing outdated infrastructure. As the BMA highlighted in 2022, more than 13.5 million hours of doctors’ time are lost each year due to malfunctioning IT systems.
“Modern and secure systems are not just a technical necessity, they’re essential to protecting patient data and improving care.”
Your IT Department was recently named in the Top 50 Best Managed IT Companies in the UK for the third year in a row. It followed a comprehensive business assessment, which recognised excellence in business operations such as leadership, sales, marketing and customer satisfaction. *
Last year the company was named in the list of Top Ten UK firms (and No.1 in the Midlands) in the tech industry ‘Oscars’ – the prestigious annual MSP 501 Awards. **
* The awards scheme for the Top 50 Best Managed IT Companies in the UK is run by the American channel marketing company TechnoPlanet: https://www.bestmanageditcompanies.com/about-uk/.
** The 2024 MSP 501 list is based on confidential data collected and analysed by Channel Futures – the media and events organisation for the information technology and communications industry: www.channelfutures.com/keyword/msp-501.
