UK tech founders sign open letter urging limits on non-competes and long notice periods
Founders of ElevenLabs, Synthesia, Fuse Energy and other UK AI startups published an open letter calling for limits on non-competes, notice periods and garden leave. They say the restrictions hold back UK growth compared with the US.
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The story, neutrally told
Leading UK tech founders published an open letter on Tuesday 29 September calling on the government to curb employment restrictions on workers. City A.M.RC “have signed an open letter published on Tuesday demanding restrictions on lengthy notice periods, non-competes and garden leave” Read at City A.M. ↗ Financial TimesN “Bosses of several leading London AI labs say employment restrictions are hampering British businesses” Read at Financial Times ↗ The Financial Times framed the letter as addressed to Andy Burnham and as a call to match US rivals. Financial TimesN “UK tech founders urge Burnham to curb non-competes to match US rivals” Read at Financial Times ↗ The letter, titled Free to Start and Scale, was signed by 22 founders and executives, including the heads of ElevenLabs and Synthesia, and is backed by investors such as Index Ventures and Entrepreneurs First. City A.M.RC “The letter has been signed by 22 founders and executives, including Elevenlabs chief executive Mati Staniszewski, Synthesia boss Victor Riparbelli”“It is also backed by venture investors including Index Ventures, Entrepreneurs First, Plural and Kindred.” Read at City A.M. ↗
It says workers are increasingly "bound by unfair restrictions" that stop them switching jobs or starting companies, and that such terms "lower wages, reduce competition, and undermine the innovation that drives economic growth". City A.M.RC “These terms lower wages, reduce competition, and undermine the innovation that drives economic growth” Read at City A.M. ↗ Fuse Energy's Alan Chang and Synthesia's Alexandru Voica told City AM that long restrictions slow hiring, with Voica saying a company cannot wait 12 months to hire an engineer or researcher. City A.M.RC “If you are a company in need of engineers or researchers or if you’re a founder with a big idea, you can’t wait 12 months to hire someone” Read at City A.M. ↗ The signatories point to California, where non-competes are generally unenforceable, as giving Silicon Valley firms an advantage in hiring. City A.M.RC “The signatories point to California, where non-compete agreements are generally unenforceable” Read at City A.M. ↗
The letter warns that tackling non-competes alone could push firms towards other ways of keeping staff, and describes labour mobility as a collective action problem. City A.M.RC “tackling non-competes alone could push companies towards other ways of preventing staff from leaving” Read at City A.M. ↗ The government is already considering reform, including limiting the length of non-competes or banning them outright, and its latest consultation closed earlier this year. City A.M.RC “The government is already considering reforming non-compete clauses, including options to limit their length or ban them outright.” Read at City A.M. ↗ Voica also called for easier routes for skilled overseas workers and criticised uncertainty over possible wealth taxes. City A.M.RC “He also criticised uncertainty around potential wealth taxes” Read at City A.M. ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- The FT headline casts the letter as a direct appeal to Andy Burnham to bring UK rules in line with the US, with the lede stressing London AI labs.
- Emphasis
- The political addressee and the competitiveness comparison with the US.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Details of the letter's demands, signatories, investors and the government's consultation do not appear in the available text.
- For example
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“UK tech founders urge Burnham to curb non-competes to match US rivals” — Financial Times
“Bosses of several leading London AI labs say employment restrictions are hampering British businesses” — Financial Times
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- City A.M. leads with the founders' complaint that restrictions are choking UK growth, in a campaign-style headline, and relays their quotes at length.
- Emphasis
- Founder and investor voices, growth and competitiveness against Silicon Valley, hiring speed, and related asks on visas and wealth taxes.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gives no view from workers, unions or employers who favour non-competes, and does not mention Burnham.
- Charged language
- “End the non-competes!”“choking UK growth”“tear up”
What every side reports
- Founders of several leading UK AI and tech firms have signed an open letter on employment restrictions.
- The founders say the restrictions hamper British businesses compared with US rivals.
ElevenLabs organisation
ElevenLabs' chief executive is a signatory to the letter, which argues that non-competes, long notice periods and garden leave hold back UK startups.
“including Elevenlabs chief executive Mati Staniszewski” — City A.M.
Andy Burnham person
The FT names Burnham as the target of the founders' appeal; the available coverage gives no response from him.
“UK tech founders urge Burnham to curb non-competes to match US rivals” — Financial Times
Non-compete clauses topic
Signatories say non-competes lower wages and reduce competition. The government has acknowledged they can restrict worker movement and is considering limiting or banning them.
“The government has acknowledged that non-competes can restrict workers from moving between employers” — City A.M.
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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UK tech founders urge Burnham to curb non-competes to match US rivals
Neutral Reports the founders' appeal to Burnham as a competitiveness issue relative to the US.
Right1 article
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End the non-competes! Tech bosses warn ‘unfair’ rules are choking UK growth
Sympathetic Presents the founders' case for ending non-competes as a growth issue, with extensive quotes and little counterview.
- 29 Sep 05:00 First Financial TimesN UK tech founders urge Burnham to curb non-competes to match US rivals
- 29 Sep 18:06 +13h 6m City A.M.RC End the non-competes! Tech bosses warn ‘unfair’ rules are choking UK growth
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.