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Digital Inclusion Action Plan – our perspective

Wednesday 26 February 2025

This morning the Government 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 2023 Digital Skills Roadmap.

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 (our influencer pathway for 2025).  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. The words  ‘active, cross-governmental sponsorship’ will be music to the workstream team who have worked so hard championing this area.  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 NHS Digital Academy (many of you will know that this is led by James Freed who co-leads our framework workstream).
  • 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 DSIT to build the economic and social value case.  As you know, these exciting pieces of work are well underway as part of our 2025 delivery plan. There’s clear evidence that we’ve 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 Tech; 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, we’ll be gathering your perspectives so we can provide consolidated views.

Lots to be energised about in terms of new Government ambition.  Our 2025 delivery plan ‘Routes to 20 million’ talks to many of the skills priorities, including our burgeoning pathways (sector, place, task area, and not in work as well as the breaking the cycle influence pathway). The teams are increasingly standing up and we’re looking forward to the first end of Sprint workshop in just under three weeks (Tuesday 18 March).

The publication of the government strategy provides a brilliant opportunity to energise others around our mission so here are four things you might want to do now:

  1. Our CEO Liz Williams published her thoughts in a LinkedIn blog this morning – please comment, like and share with your networks.
  2. If you are a Charter signatory, please take the opportunity to showcase your leadership and encourage others to join you.  There are social banners on the FutureDotNow website ready for you to add your logo –  www.futuredotnow.uk/communications-assets
  3. If your organisation isn’t a Charter signatory, consider using the Government endorsement to open the conversation.  Find out more and sign up at www.futuredotnow.uk/charter.
  4. Use the publication of the Government’s Action Plan to raise awareness of the workforce essential digital skills gap with your network.  Share your thoughts and encourage others to sign the Workforce Digital Skills Charter and join the FutureDotNow community.  Find out more https://futuredotnow.uk/become-a-futuredotnow-member/

FutureDotNow key messages

  • c.21 million (52%) working-age adults cannot perform all 20 work tasks outlined in the Essential Digital Skills Framework. This critical skills gap impacts all sectors, regions and demographics. The rise of AI and automation, and the risk of major workforce displacement adds significant urgency to addressing this issue.
  • FutureDotNow is leading the mission to close the UK’s workforce essential digital skills gap. Our campaigning is influencing public policy and inspiring business action. By convening a powerful coalition of business leaders, policy makers and experts, we are surfacing practical solutions and coordinating collective action to drive systemic change.
  • We were established by and for business and our coalition continues to grow. We convene the reach and influence of industry leaders such as Accenture, Amey, Barclays, City and Guilds, City of London, Deloitte, Marks and Spencer, NHS England, Nominet, Oliver Wyman, PwC, Salesforce and UFI VocTech Trust, alongside with many others.
  • In 2023, FutureDotNow published The UK workforce digital skills gap: Why closing it matters and a roadmap for action with insight from DSIT, DfE, DWP and the Cabinet Office.
  • The most recent update to the roadmap is Routes to 20 million: Progress in 2024 and the 2025 plan for action. FutureDotNow has convened a group of more than 50 leading organisations to work together and deliver the objectives this plan sets out.
  • 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/

The Workforce Digital Skills Charter

  • The Workforce Digital Skills Charter unites employers around a joint mission to close the essential digital skills gap in the UK workforce. Coordinated by FutureDotNow, it is a shared statement of ambition for concerted action to close this critical skills gap.
  • Over 100 cross-sector organisations have lead the way as Charter signatories, including major UK businesses like Accenture, Amey, Barclays, CIPD, Cisco, Lloyds Banking Group, M&S, Nationwide, Oliver Wyman, Nominet, PwC, Salesforce and techUK. 
  • To find out more and become a Charter signatory, visit www.futuredotnow.uk/charter.