The digital skills gap is a growing problem in the UK and according to a recent report by the Communications and Digital Committee, the government has no credible strategy to tackle it.
The Digital Exclusion Report found that millions of people in the UK lack the digital skills they need to participate fully in society and the economy. This is having a significant impact on people’s lives, as they are unable to access essential services, find jobs, or learn new skills.
The Digital Exclusion report highlighted concerns at the level of the UK’s digital skills and residential internet access.
- 4m people are still unable to complete a single basic digital task to get online.
- 5m workers will be acutely underskilled in basic digital skills by 2030.
- 7m households have no broadband or mobile internet access.
- £63bn is lost each year to the UK economy each year due to overall digital skills shortages.
- 1m people have cut back or cancelled their internet packages in the last year due to affordability issues.
The report also found that the government’s current approach to tackling the digital skills gap is piecemeal and ineffective. There is no clear plan to address the issue, and there is no coordination between different government departments.
The Digital Exclusion report makes a number of recommendations to the government, including:
- Develop a comprehensive strategy to tackle the digital skills gap. This strategy should include a clear set of goals, objectives, and targets.
- Increase funding for digital skills training. This funding should be targeted at people who are most in need of digital skills training.
- Make digital skills training more accessible. This could be done by offering training online, in libraries, and in community centres.
- Work with employers to ensure that digital skills are valued in the workplace. This could be done by incentivising employers to hire and train people with digital skills.
The government must act now to address the digital skills gap. If it does not, millions of people in the UK will be left behind in the digital economy.
How Digital Agencies Can Help Businesses with the Digital Skills Gap
Digital agencies, such as 127 Media, can play a key role in bridging the digital skills gap. They have a wealth of experience and expertise in digital technologies, and they can help businesses to develop their digital skills.
Digital agencies can offer a variety of services to help businesses bridge the digital skills gap. These services include:
- Digital training: Digital agencies can provide training on a variety of digital topics, such as website design, social media marketing, and data analysis.
- Digital consulting: Digital agencies can provide consulting services to businesses that are looking to improve their digital presence.
- Digital products and services: Digital agencies can develop digital products and services that can help businesses to learn about and use digital technologies.
Benefits of Bridging the Digital Skills Gap
There are a number of benefits to bridging the digital skills gap. It can mean increased productivity, improved efficiency, and more significant innovation for businesses.
For individuals, it can mean better job opportunities, higher salaries, and a more fulfilling career.
In addition to the benefits for businesses and individuals, there are also broader societal benefits to bridging the digital skills gap. For example, bridging the gap can help to reduce social exclusion and improve people’s quality of life.
In Summary
The digital skills gap in the UK is a serious problem, but one that can be solved. By working together, the government, businesses, and digital agencies can help to ensure that everyone in the UK has the digital skills they need to succeed in the 21st-century economy.
If you’d like to know more about how we can help businesses that have a digital skills shortage, please get in touch.