Open call for input: How can the tech sector support the nation on COVID-19?
With the escalation of the Covid-19 pandemic, a lot of us have found ourselves asking what can we do to help?
The basics, of course are most important – washing your hands regularly, working from home where possible and social distancing where appropriate. On top of these measures, we have to look out for each other and support our communities where we can.
We have the pleasure of acting as the secretariat of PICTFOR, The Parliamentary Internet, Communications and Technology Forum, Westminster’s largest and most active APPG. As is evident from its name, PICTFOR focuses on three policy areas: internet, communications and technology, and exists to broaden the dialogue between the UK’s tech community and Westminster.
The tech community has an outstanding capacity for responding to challenges, with a history of putting differences aside to overcome difficulty – just look at the Mayor of London’s Civic Innovation Challenge, an annual call to arms for the tech world to solve some of the most pressing issues the city faces.
PICTFOR is channelling this spirit and calling on the tech community to answer our open call for input: How can the tech sector support SMEs, the nation, government and Parliament on covid-19? One of our members techUK has been asked by Government to collate input from the tech sector on what it can do to help on the Coronavirus response. PICTFOR is conducting a similar complimentary step by seeking views on support that can be provided to SMEs, and by holding a digital roundtable on how the tech industry can help to support SMEs, the nation, government and Parliament on covid-19. Following the session we will collate the minutes and written submissions from industry members and share this with PICTFOR Officers, industry members, DCMS, No. 10 and other relevant stakeholders and the report will be published on our website. If you are interested in inputting to this, please send us a briefing of no more than 2 pages for inclusion by 31st of March 2020.
The UK tech community is a dynamic one. It is generous, resilient and innovative, it is one of the best assets we have, and we can all do our bit to help. For further information or to input, visit our website or email the secretariat at events@pictfor.org.uk.
If there is anything that your business is experiencing as a result of covid-19 that you would like our officers to be aware of, please let us know.