It’s tricky to find a way of discussing Brexit positively that doesn’t descend into confusion, fantasy free trade or worse, ranting, recriminations and refighting the campaign. In Newcastle last night 30 people from the region’s digital sector played a new ‘Back to the Brexit’ game that gave the audience a vehicle to talk positively about the future. The session at Campus North was convened by Thinking Digital and GeneratorNE (thanks to Herb, Jim and Emma in particular) and as part of my work on Brexit and the digital sphere for Carnegie UK Trust. It follows on from sessions in Cardiff and London.
I gave a short introductory talk setting the scene (the Supreme Court decision had been that morning) – slides here. Then I set a ‘Back to the Brexit’ thought experiment for the group:
Imagine it is about five years after Brexit – say 2023. All EU funding has stopped (a big issue in the North East that can dominate discussion). You each have to answer three questions:
What do you hope the digital sector in the North East will look like in 2023?
What would be your advice from 2023 to an 18 year-old leaving school today in 2017?
From a 2023 perspective, what actions do you wish that the government had taken from 2017 onwards?
We set people off for 30 minutes with PostIts to write answers, a board for each question and, crucially some beers and coffee. We asked them to chat to each other with strictly no refighting the campaign. Then reconvened as a group around each board and discussed people’s suggestions – which were a strong mix as below. People seemed to enjoy it, several said it was the first time they had had a chance to discuss Brexit creatively and positively, even if they hadn’t backed Brexit themselves. Thanks to everyone who took part for a good humoured, constructive session.
If you like the model and would like me to run one of these with you drop me a line or just blatantly copy it, which I am sure people will do anyway – but it would be nice if you could acknowledge me and let me know how it goes though in the comments below.
Here are the suggestions people shared on their PostIts (any errors are mine in transcribing):
What do you hope the digital sector in the NE will look like in 2023?
Build on what we are already working towards
Sustainable innovative hub
Network of small indy experts in support of each other
Lots of companies trying to get on and share to the benefit of them and their customers
It’s not going anywhere, let’s make it better
Smart industries re0imagine manufacturing through digital tech
Supporting research and academia
Biggest success story of brexit
Become more competitive globally on digital services
Vibrant diverse range of businesses supporting a growing recognition of region as outstanding international hub
Vibrant SME sector in the NE
Bigger better visible, the busiest and most profitable post brexit sector
Self sustaining
Long term, stable local job creation
Replace ESF with HMG money
Digital user experience technologies creating empowering experiences
More companies locating here
More digital design opportunities
Cosmopolitan society with people from all over the world
A large proportion of local people employed in the sector
Philanthropic money, rather than relying on EU funding
World leader in tech and digital
Digital is pervasive neologism
Better than having remained
British owned digital companies
Lots of scalable digital companies securing global markets
Sharing and collaborative approach – less siloed
Agility and creativity from organisations (currently) dependent upon European funding
Innovative, creative, world-leading, competitive, collaborative
Biggest industrial contribution to the NE economy
Coherent, tight-knit collaborative cluster
Retain our digital talent, trained locally
Leveraging local talents and resources
Not just sustainable but profit making and possibly research-rich and led
Partnerships between government/universities and tech organisations
Ambitious and confident
Don’t think of ‘digital scene’ – everything is digital and ‘scenes’ are transitory
Be brilliant and bore people with greatness !
Bigger, more sustainable
Strong, integrated and connected sector, clustered in a geographical location
Advice from 2023 to an 18yo leaving school today in 2017
Do a degree apprenticeship
Learn coding, leanr how to work w techies
Learn and keep learning – business skills, languages, digital specialisms
Collaborate and share ideas
Get industrial placement experience
Keep study options broad – don’t specialise too soon, be creative
Find your niche, go global
Learn to code and feed your passions
Get plenty of work experience in different types of organisation
Learn foreign language because mainland Europe has stopped speaking English
Follow STEM disciplines, acquire some digital skills
Whatever your subject do a law conversaion course – lawyers and accountants will always have work
Learn leadership skills early on
Learn about bots and AI
Crossover – IT and something else
Travel (x3)
Develop your identity as a global and local citizen
Learn to code – even if you don’t do it as a job (x2)
Do an apprenticeship (x2)
Take languages and cultures seriously – have at least one other language (x4)
Have/develop/learn hard and soft tech skills
Be interested in current affairs
Be curious
Develop problem solving/critical thinking skills
Work hard
Consider international university/tech courses outside UK
Learn and play. Get good at what you do.
Develop your soft skills
Do practical vocational skills
Move to San Francisco
Expand your networks
You get what you give, keep on persevering
Be excellent at solving problems
Become the best you can in what you love. If you are good at what you do you will have work.
Actions for the government from 2017, reflecting a 2023 post Brexit perspective:
Replace ERDF money with UK regeneration fund
Invest in digital infrastructure
Listen to the sector – really listen and take action based on key messages
More control over levers of change at a regional level: regulation, tax incentives, investment, borrowing
Realise that digital permeates all industry now – tech is a thread that keeps business moving
Theresa May – live a day in our lives
Understand success stories
Listen to experts and those in the industry
Significantly increase the number of tech visas
Investment in digital skills/capabilities/training/r&d
Dictate the terms of the UK leaving the EU. Take the approach that the UK will be stronger outside EU
Reform school curriculum to completely embed digital – make UK a world leader in this
Invest real money into tech sector and skills in the North East as well as the North West
Make funds accessible direct rather than through quango bodies
Realise everything will be digital
Use Brexit as opportunity to provide significant investment in digital and physical infrastructure to support business
Understand and appreciate differences in the regions
Reduce red tape
Invest in education
Visit the North East and talk to businesses and sector bodies NOT the LEP or academics
Put it all on black – be brave
Make sure the education system allows lads to experiment with their skills and expectations
Jurgen Maier should be based in 10 Downing Street
Devolve power from central government
Ensure access to Digital Single Market
Encourage young entrepreneurs and student exchanges
Invest in infrastructure – give people a reason to live here (in North East)
Invest in education
Break up BT
Develop graphene based IP
Embrace the value of IP
Allow for the free movement of the right talent into and out of the region
Get involved in European non-EU organisations such as BEREC
Fund FE and HE establishments by replacing EU funding to ensure that tech skills remain in the UK
Measure and recognise the scale of the digital sector to the economy
Create spaces for companies to start at no/low cost.
Agree a free trade and open borders deal with Donald J Trump
Ring fence ERDF funding for business support
Tell the truth, answer questions
Fireside chats with tech firms – to bring a rounded understanding
[ENDS]
William Perrin
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