Annual Innovation Report good news for IT training

21:00 10th December 2008

The Annual Innovation Report was launched at Downing Street last week in an event urging UK businesses to utilise developments in technology to survive the economic downturn.

Prime minister Gordon Brown, science and innovation minister Lord Drayson and innovation, universities and skills secretary John Denham were all present at the event, which is intended to highlight best practice in UK business innovation.

Lord Grayson commented: "Publication of this first Annual Innovation Report delivers on a recommendation first set out by Lord Sainsbury in his 2007 review, 'Race to the Top'. It underlines our commitment to put innovation at the heart of our strategy and to ensure the spread of good practice across government departments and Regional Development Agencies."

He added that it was more important now than ever before to invest in IT skills and training to ensure the UK economy remains robust during the credit crunch.

Research by e-skills UK in early 2008 revealed that investing in IT skills could benefit the UK by £35 billion a year.