UK business leaders are outpacing their global counterparts when it comes to tech expertise, according to research from Accenture.
A new study from the consultancy analysed the professional backgrounds of CEOs and board members across the world’s 2500 largest companies, finding more than 23 per cent of UK business leaders are now ‘proficient’ in technology, a significant rise from 17 per cent in 2021.
This means they have either had responsibility for technology decisions, held a senior role at a technology company, or gained exposure to areas such as AI, cloud, computing, data or cybersecurity.
The UK’s tech leadership puts them ahead of the curve globally with 16 per cent of European executives and 22 per cent of North American executives agreeing to similar expertise.
Sheila Flavell, COO of FDM Group said: “It’s great to see UK businesses investing in skills and training for staff, especially in fast-growing areas such as AI and data, to stand out against global counterparts. For the UK to truly be a global technology superpower, there needs to be collaboration between government, businesses and educators to emphasise high-value skills training and help bridge the gap between schools and the workplace in order to bring through the next generation of tech talent.”
“Alongside AI and data, businesses should focus on developing skills such as software engineering to help plug existing gaps. Implementing experiential learning as part of the training processes can provide staff with hands-on experience with the software and concepts being used on a day-to-day basis in the industry, building knowledge and confidence quickly to prepare candidates for real-world applications.”
In the FTSE, one-quarter of board executives possess technology skills, a 12 per cent rise within three years. In the C-Suite, nearly one in five have technology experience.
Compared to the rest of Europe where only 16 per cent of senior executives have tech expertise, the UK leads the way, followed by France which saw a rise to 20 per cent. North America is close behind with 22 per cent of its leaders proficient in technology.
The study also found that more female leaders in UK companies are helping to boost tech knowledge at the top.
40 per cent of board members and CEOs are women, with nearly one-third having tech expertise, almost double that of their male peers.
Antonia Walt, Chief of Client Experience at AND Digital commented: “It is extremely exciting to see women in tech leadership roles contributing to innovation across UK businesses. Diverse teams are essential for long-term growth and women love tech and are passionate, eager to excel and make a difference.”
The commitment is evident, with 79 per cent of senior women in tech feeling successful, according to the AND Digital Rewards & Resilience report. To sustain and build on this success, businesses must continue to invest in skills training for women, taking a people AND innovation approach, ensuring they remain empowered and ready to thrive in the evolving industry.”
The shift toward AI is also reshaping C-suite roles, with 40 per cent of job postings in the last year related to data. UK businesses are actively seeking strategic positions like chief data officers, while 5 per cent of FTSE 100 companies are recruiting for AI and data-driven roles.
