Faisal Ghaffar 
Data continues to reveal that number of people is not sufficient with digital expertise to meet demand from companies, contributing to the UK’s rising gap for digital skills.
Data released this week revealed the size of the disparity, indicating that the lack of digital talent may “stifle progress.” T the UK government introduced its latest digital strategy, which contained several initiatives to boost the number of tech professionals in the nation.
A plan to introduce quick visas for exceptional foreign tech employees was one of the measures. But according to CEO Distributed Callum Adamson, the strategy isn’t good enough—and not just because many of the ministers involved in its introduction have now gone. BT and UK company Distributed recently announced a £30 million agreement. Distributed finds and sends freelance software workers to businesses eager to expand their digital staffs.
Adamson outlined what he believed to be some obvious problems with the state’s digital strategy. Adamson acknowledged the value of tech visas but criticized the slow speed at which politics and technology are frequently separated.
It takes several months to apply for and receive one of these tech visas; none of these visas can be completed in 20 minutes. Technology advances more quickly than that, according to Adamson. According to Adamson, the majority of businesses have “urgent technology demands, “therefore hiring full-time technical personnel through a tech work permit from other countries is insufficient.
Government is too lazy
It’s possible that the UK won’t be able to meet the significant demand for digital talents if it only concentrates on bringing in foreign tech personnel working full-time work permits. Adamson made note of the challenges associated with finding long-term employment for foreign workers and suggested placing more attention on independent tech developers, who constitute a sizable section of the global IT industry.
Adamson stated that we are eliminating 40% of the entire potential workforce if you’re solely relying on these tech visas, and not in any way hiring freelancers or utilizing freelancers at scale. According to Adamson the government’s justification is flawed because it’s tougher to manage tax from the viewpoint of HMRC standpoint. Tax responsibilities and tax visibility for freelancers are more difficult to structure.
Even if they are some of the world’s best and most efficient team members, they are too lethargic to design tax advantages for independent contractors and freelancers, he further added.
