2024 delivery plan: Strategy

Our ambition for 2024

• The Essential Digital Skills Framework and the skills for work validated by industry, with an appropriate review process established that ensures it keeps pace with tech developments (e.g. AI).
• The framework positioned alongside appropriate standards and curriculum, with formal ownership and review process in place. 
• Framework recognised and adopted by industry as the digital skills baseline for workers.

Sprint 1 achievements
(Jan-Mar)

Reviewing ownership and relevance

• Employer survey designed to gather cross-sector views and test assumptions that framework is comprehensive, applicable, credible and relevant.
• Understanding established of the current ownership of the Essential Digital Skills framework, enabling discussion with DfE and other stakeholders on future responsibilities. 

Sprint 2 achievements (Jun-Jul)

New insight informs advocacy

• Employer survey confirms framework is a good baseline – all 20 tasks identified as essential for at least some employees. Different sectors have different needs, so degree of flexibility is required, as is the development of sector specific examples that bring the tasks to life.
• Recommendations on the future ownership of the framework feeds into Asks of Government document (see Workstream 1). Engagement with DfE continues. 
• Opportunity identified to integrate Essential Digital Skills Framework into Turing Institute/IFATE study into the consistency of digital skills across frameworks, standards and job descriptions. 

Sprint 3 achievements

Validation, ownership and links to standards

• Summary report underway to capture insights and recommendations from the employer survey and Turing/IFATE Data Study Group.
• Sector-specific overlays of framework drafted for Construction, SME and Healthcare. 
• Framework ownership now under Ministerial review following workstream input to government officials (including DfE representation on workstream group). 
• Mapping started into how EDS framework sits alongside other existing standards, curricula and qualifications, so opportunities can be identified to strengthen the use of a common language.

Our ambition for 2024

• Gaps in the evidence base on economic impact of the workforce essential digital skills gap will have been closed.
• Richer understanding of the economic impact allows workforce essential digital skills to be appropriately prioritised. 

Sprint 1 achievements
(Jan-Mar)

Reviewing existing data

• Thorough review of existing research confirmed clear gap in data on impact of workforce essential digital skills on productivity and other key metrics. The limited data available is non-specific and out of date, with no government-owned data sources. 

Sprint 2 achievements (Jun-Jul)

 Developing a research brief

• Research brief developed to size the economic impact of workforce essential digital skills workforce.
• Socialised with research partners and prospective funders.
• Principal research partner identified, subject to funding.

Sprint 3 achievements (Sep-Nov)

Funding secured and work underway

• Funding secured from the Department of Science Innovation and Technology via the office of the National Technology Adviser. 
• FutureDotNow to lead 2025 research project on the economic impact of workforce essential digital skills. 
• Cebr appointed as principal research partner.
• Field research to begin December 2024 with publication of findings scheduled Spring 2025.

Our ambition for 2024

• Building essential digital skills within the workforce established as a credible method of delivering ESG social impact.
• This unlocks capacity and impact by creating new appetite/motivation among business leaders to build skills in their workforce and wider community. 

Sprint 1 achievements
(Jan-Mar)

• Preliminary conversations with Deloitte and Good Things Foundation to understand measurement and reporting on social value impact made by digital inclusion and digital upskilling activities.

Sprint 2 achievements (Jun-Jul)

• Co-leads representing ISS and NHS England join workstream team. 
• Early development of supply chain ‘how to’ guides to help suppliers and procurement professionals understand and emphasise the social impact of enhancing individuals’ essential digital skills for work. 
• First workshop held with business leaders and further content development plan scoped for Sprint 3. 

 Sprint 3 achievements (Sep-Nov)

Social value act: Commissioner guide in draft 

• Ongoing refinement of content and positioning to ensure that FutureDotNow is providing a leading voice on linking workforce digital skills to social value. 
• Met with Crown Commercial Service in December to explore opportunity in public sector bids

S in ESG: Discussions live with prospective funder and project brief scoped to quantify social value of workforce essential digital skills, addressing: 

• How helping working-age adults build core digital capability and confidence creates value for society. 
• The difference in life chances for someone with and without essential digital skills. 
• The value a worker with the essential digital skills brings to society.