Launch of the digital inclusion action plan

The NHS Digital Academy is delighted to be playing our part in shaping the government’s agenda in tackling digital inclusion.

The government has published their Digital Inclusion Action Plan. It marks a significant and positive step in building a truly digital society, and there’s lots to celebrate. It acts on many recommendations made in our partner, FutureDotNow’s 2023 Digital Skills Roadmap and also shows intent to ‘join up with the broader public sector and learn from initiatives such as the NHS Digital Academy, which seeks to upskill the 1.4 million NHS staff to have basic digital and data competence and confidence.'

 

Highlights identified by FutureDotNow, which also demonstrate synergies and their coalition’s impact (NHS Digital Academy being a member), 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 of all ages 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 effective processes to ensure the content keeps pace with technological advances. There is also commitment to lead by example, with the government ensuring everyone in the civil service is equipped with the essential digital skills, along with explicit mention of learning from initiatives like the NHS Digital Academy
• coalescing around the Workforce digital skills charter with government promoting it to business and third sector leaders.  The charter was the result of hard work from across the FutureDotNow community last year and designed to act as that rallying call, so really brilliant to see this government endorsement
• 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 the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) to build the economic and social value case.  These exciting pieces of work are well underway as part of the FutureDotNow 2025 delivery plan. There’s clear evidence that they have influenced government thinking on this part of the opportunity

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

There’s lots more to digest, including a new digital inclusion action committee and a new digital innovation fund.  The government have clearly signalled this action plan is their first step on a longer journey.  It includes a call for further evidence and over the coming weeks, FutureDotNow will be gathering coalition members’ perspectives so they can provide consolidated views.

Lots to be energised about in terms of new government ambition.  The FutureDotNow 2025 delivery plan ‘Routes to 20 million’ talks to many of the skills priorities, including burgeoning pathways (sector, place, task area, and not in work as well as the breaking the cycle influence pathway).