Combined authority joins business led coalition to equip adults with digital skills

Digital Skills

Greater Manchester Combined Authority has joined a skills coalition made up of some of the UK’s biggest brands to close the workplace digital skills gap.

FutureDotNow is bringing together organisations from across the UK including Accenture, BT, M&S and Nationwide Building Society to tackle the growing digital skills gap.

It will be coordinating industry action to get working-age adults across the UK equipped with, at least, the essential digital skills – EDS – for life and work.

The UK is currently in the midst of a digital skill crisis, research shows that 17 million people are without the EDS for work and only 23% have had any digital skills training from their employer.

The move to join the FutureDotNow coalition will build on the GMCA’s current work tackling the skills shortage which has seen it grant £1.5m to the 10 Greater Manchester local authorities to address local barriers to digital inclusion and provide residents with the digital kit needed to get online.

 

Eamonn Boylan, chief executive of GMCA, said: “I am proud to announce that GMCA has joined the FutureDotNow coalition to tackle the growing digital skills gap across Greater Manchester and beyond.

“In Greater Manchester we believe that everyone whatever their age, location, or situation, should be able to benefit from the opportunities digital brings and joining the coalition is an important step in ensuring this is the case.

“This pandemic has amplified the digital skills gap and the need for digital skills in life and work. We are looking forward to being a part of FutureDotNow to build collective action and drive change that supports our residents.”

Addressing the digital skills shortage is a key focus of the Greater Manchester Digital Blueprint, a three-year plan which sets our Greater Manchester’s commitment to being a digital city-region that puts residents at the heart of its plans.

Liz Williams MBE, FutureDotNow’s chief executive, said: “The workplace digital-skills crisis is holding back businesses and the economy. GMCA has set a clear ambition to become a world-leading digital city-region, and I’m delighted to welcome it to the FutureDotNow coalition.

“Together we will work with businesses across Greater Manchester to accelerate digital upskilling and ensure working- age adults are equipped with the essential digital skills vital for their future prosperity and to realise economic benefits for the region.”

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