The Government's New Digital Inclusion Action Plan - what it means for the workforce

Today’s publication of the Government’s new Digital Inclusion Action Plan marks a significant step forward in building a truly digital society, supercharging the whole UK with the digital skills needed to drive prosperity, productivity and economic growth.

At FutureDotNow, we’re focused on closing the essential digital skills gap in adults of working age – the 21m people without the full suite of digital essentials. ?We’ve always been clear that long-term, systemic change is needed to fully address the scale of the issue and that it has to be a team game – business, civil society and policy makers working together in common cause.? And Government has clearly been listening.

The Digital Inclusion Action Plan acts on many of the recommendations made in FutureDotNow’s 2023 Digital Skills Roadmap.?? There are four focus areas in the plan, with the first ‘opening up opportunities through skills’.? Particular highlights include:

The new definition of digital inclusion - ‘ensuring that everyone has the access, skills, support and confidence to participate in and benefit from our modern digital society, whatever their circumstances’. ?The digital upskilling needs of the working age adults are included, alongside the importance of breaking the cycle for young people and ensuring they leave school equipped with the essential digital skills.? It’s also important to note the Government giving explicit recognition to the fact people need training and support to build core digital capability.?

Recognition of the Essential Digital Skills Framework as the national digital skills baseline, with commitment to the ownership and ensuring the content keeps pace with technological advances. ‘Active, cross-governmental sponsorship’ is exactly what is needed!? And we are particularly lifted by the commitment to lead by example, with the Government ensuring everyone in the Civil Service is equipped with the essential digital skills.

Coalescing around the Workforce Digital Skills Charter with Government promoting it to business and third sector leaders. ?The Charter unites employers around a joint mission to close the essential digital skills gap in the UK workforce. Coordinated by FutureDotNow, it has already been signed by over 100 leading organisations. You can find out more and sign up at www.futuredotnow.uk/charter.?

Taking action to strengthen the business case with recognition of the importance to growing the economy and personal prosperity.? As mentioned directly in the Action Plan, FutureDotNow is already working with DSIT to build the economic and social value case.? These exciting pieces of work are well underway.? If you’d like to know more, get in touch – [email protected].

We’re also encouraged by the cross-departmental sponsorship of the action plan, with not one but five government departments aligned – the Departments for Science, Innovation and Tech; Health and Social Care; Education; Work and Pensions; and Housing, Communities and Local Government.

The Government action plan is their first step on a longer journey.? There's lots be energised about and lots more to digest, including a new Digital Inclusion Action Committee and a new Digital Innovation Fund.

It includes a call for further evidence and over the coming weeks, we’ll be working with the FutureDotNow community of over 200 business leaders to gather their perspectives and provide a consolidated view.?

FutureDotNow is an action community.? From tackling systemic issues to finding new pathways to help businesses reach people at scale, we’ve a comprehensive plan.? Our 2025 delivery plan ‘Routes to 20 million’ is already in flight.? You can read it here along with details of the progress made in 2024.

Supercharging the workforce with essential digital skills is a team game, and we’d love you to get involved.? Here are three things you can do now:

1. Sign the Workforce Digital Skill Charter and?join the growing community of leading organisations driving change at scale and at pace.?? Find out more and sign up at www.futuredotnow.uk/charter.? If you’re already a Charter signatory, take the opportunity to showcase your leadership and encourage others to join you.? There are social images on the FutureDotNow website ready for you to add your logo -?www.futuredotnow.uk/communications-assets?
2. Join the FutureDotNow community.? Membership brings a wealth of benefits, including access to online resources that help you take action to improve the digital capability and confidence of your workforce and??regular events.? Find out more https://futuredotnow.uk/become-a-futuredotnow-member/
3. Use the publication of the Government’s Action Plan to share your thoughts with your network and raise awareness of the workforce essential digital skills gap.?