A local TMT expert has hailed the value of the Thames Valley’s digital community, despite claims the scale of the sector is undervalued by government.
Research by the National Institute for Economic and Social Research revealed there are almost 270,000 digital firms in the UK, 40 per cent more than current Downing Street estimates.
Gareth Davies, director and TMT specialist at BDO LLP in Reading, says: “There are concerns that the government’s classification of digital plc is out of date and is failing to capture the true scale of the sector.
“The Thames Valley is rich in creative enterprise. We must support the dynamic and evolving creative industries, which in many ways epitomises the entrepreneurial culture of our region.
“Known to many as the ‘Silicon Valley of Europe’, we live and work in a world class business location, with huge specialisms in digital, tech and media innovation. The creative industries contribute approximately 10% of the industrial base of the Thames Valley, and if the sector is set to continue to play an even bigger role in the local and national economy, it needs to be nurtured and championed by government.”
