New Frontier report for techUK assesses the impact of Brexit on the UK’s digital sector

New Frontier report for techUK assesses the impact of Brexit on the UK’s digital sector

Frontier (Europe) today published a report examining the impact of the UK’s exit from the European Union on the ‘digital sector’ – groups of industries that produce or intensively use digital goods and services. The analysis focused on the links between the UK’s digital sector and suppliers and customers globally and across Europe.

The report was commissioned by techUK, the leading organisation representing Britain’s digital businesses, to inform decision-making ahead of the upcoming negotiations between the UK and the EU. Among the major findings, the report demonstrated that the digital sectors account for 16 per cent of output, 10 per cent of employment, and 24 per cent of exports. The report detailed the extensive international orientation of the digital sector, including its reliance on global talent and cross-border data flows.

Julian David, techUK’s CEO, said: “As this report sets out, it is in the strong interests of the UK’s digitally-intensive sectors that a new comprehensive free trade agreement is reached with the EU that can enable continued growth in the UK and innovation and digital transformation across the EU.”

Along with the report, techUK has produced a number of materials stating the priorities for the digital sector in a post-Brexit world. The report was also launched today at techUK. Ian Hathaway of Frontier, one of the authors, presented the analysis and main findings and Amar Breckenridge of Frontier participated in a panel discussion taking questions from the audience. Other panel members were Vicky Ford MEP, economist and consultant Vicky Pryce and Tom King, Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs at IBM.

Frontier regularly advises organisations in the public, private and third sectors on matters of media, technology, innovation, economic growth, and commercial strategy.

For more information, please contact media@frontier-economics.com or call +44 (0) 20 7031 7000