Mission
Tech London Advocates exists to champion London as a global tech hub and to address the challenges facing tech companies across the UK. The not-for-profit organisation includes more than 13,00 Advocates and spans 20 tech cities and regions around the world. Together with Global Tech Advocates, it is a global network spanning 20 countries with over 20,000 tech leaders that aims to give tech a voice worldwide.
Campaign
Through a series of thought-leadership reports and bi-annual events for thousands of attendees at Here East in the Olympic Park, Tech London Advocates has campaigned for some of the biggest issues facing the London tech industry – from diversity and inclusion to infrastructure and connectivity, from access to funding and visa legislation. Seven Hills has travelled the world with Tech London Advocates, showcasing London as a tech powerhouse in Bangalore, Singapore, San Francisco, Madrid, Bogotá and Toyko.
As a founding partner for London Tech Week, Tech London Advocates is prominent in every iteration of the largest tech festival in Europe and in 2019, Global Tech Advocates – the international brand – hosted the first ever GTA Festival in Shanghai to celebrate international collaboration in tech and the launch of GTA’s first global tech hub.
At the Tech for D&Iversity 2022 event, Tech London Advocates and Seven Hills joined forces; a report launch, media story and hybrid event all came together to maximise impact. The report explores what progress has been made in the tech industry in recent years and the event itself – a series of keynote speeches, debates and videos about making more diverse and inclusive workplaces a reality – was broadcast online, with a small audience in-person at Plexal in Here East.
The continued lack of diversity in UK tech was confirmed by an advocate survey conducted prior to the event which helped to frame the discussion of the day. At the event, Russ Shaw emphasised his desire to demonstrate the practical work and effective strategies being implemented to create a more diverse tech sector, supported by the Secretary of State and Mayor of London in video addresses.
“It’s an extremely exciting time of innovation and dynamic growth. There is opportunity for the tech sector to be even more dynamic and ambitious in setting up the workplaces of the future.” – Russ Shaw, Founder of Tech London Advocates and Global Tech Advocates
Momentum
Seven Hills has helped Russ Shaw establish Tech London Advocates as one of the most influential business networks in the UK. Russ is considered one of the most prominent voices in all of UK technology, and was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours List 2021 for services to technology and to business in London. He was recognised for his achievements at the inaugural London Business Awards in 2019, where he won the London Hero award, and he was also recognised as a ‘Tech Titan’ in The Evening Standard’s Progress 1,000.
