Microsoft, HP, HPE, IBM and Cisco among tech titans to meet government about Brexit

Skills gap high on the agenda, as well as Single Digital Market

Thirteen tech giants including Cisco, HP, HPE and Microsoft have met with the UK government to discuss the implications of Brexit - with the IT skills gap a hot topic of discussion.

According to a government announcement this afternoon, a roundtable was recently held with ministers Robin Walker and Lord Bridges from the Department for Exiting the European Union, culture minister Matt Hancock, and 13 tech titans: ARM, Cisco, Coedec, Facebook, Google, HPE, HP, Huawei, IBM, Microsoft, Samsung, Tech City UK and Tech UK.

The government remained tight-lipped about the specifics of what was discussed, but did say that among the topics of discussion was the IT skills gap and the Digital Single Market - an initiative to ensure people and businesses across the continent can access digital services seamlessly and are subject to the same rules and regulations.

The government recognised the importance of the technology industry to the UK economy, claiming the sector expanded twice as fast as the UK economy as a whole in 2014.

Speaking after the roundtable, minister for exiting the European Union, Robin Walker, said:

"Britain is open for business as a global tech hub and we intend to make sure it stays that way. Since the UK voted to leave the EU we have seen many companies - including technology giants such as Google, Facebook and Apple - continue to invest here, creating thousands of new jobs across the country.

"The technology sector is a high-performing area of our economy, and it was great to meet with them for a second time to hear their concerns and talk about how they can grasp the opportunities to stem from our new relationship with the EU."