welcome to the digital skills directory for FutureDotNow
Check out some of the leading UK digital skills initiatives, working together to provide UK society with the skills to thrive .now. This is a live directory, which aims to highlight the breadth of digital skills initiatives carried out across the UK. We want to magnify their impact to inspire and encourage similar efforts from people and businesses.
Over 200 digital skills initiatives were summarised and reviewed across the UK to understand gaps and opportunities for collaboration and deeper impact. A selection of these initiatives are presented here. Please note this is just the beginning. This is a live directory which we will continue to update as we continue to explore and analyse the landscape of digital skills programmes.
Microsoft
Digital Skills Programme
Microsoft’s digital skills programme is designed for all ages from 7 onwards. It aims to provide everybody with basic digital skills, nurture young people's passion for computer science, create pathways into digital careers, and provide essential training to businesses and IT professionals who need to develop their understanding of the latest digital technologies.
Who is supported? Employed Adults, Children and Young People, Teachers, Parents, Unemployed Adults, Young adults transitioning into work, A young person not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET)
Where is the support located? Online, UK Wide
How many people are supported each year? 100,001 - 500,000
BCS
Digital Literacy Qualifications
Digital literacy qualifications aimed at individuals with little to basic knowledge of IT that ensure the digital journey is safe and positive. BCS raises standards of competence and conduct across the IT industry. This is in combination with training that is held at approved training centres across the UK with courses such as Essential Digital Skills, Digital Skills and IT User.
Who is supported? Employed Adults, Children and Young People, Teachers, Parents, Unemployed Adults, Young adults transitioning into work, A young person not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET), Retired or Elderly
Where is the support located? Online, UK wide
How many people are supported each year? 100,001 - 500,000
Freeformers
Pulse, Champion, Digital Mentors App
Freeformers is a learning and technology company who help people and organisations adopt new technologies and ways of working. The Champion Management Platform is able to identify, recruit and support a network of internal champions to deliver consistent and impactful experiences to their colleagues. Success is measured through a proprietary assessment framework and correlating a change in learners' confidence and adaptability with improvements in key business metrics.
Who is supported? Employed Adults, Teachers, Parents, Unemployed Adults, Young adults transitioning into work, Retired or Elderly
Where is the support located? Online, UK wide
How many people are supported each year? 100,001 - 500,000
South East Local Enterprise Partnership
Digital Skills Partnership South East
Local Digital Skills Partnerships (Local DSPs) bring together businesses, large employers, charities, and public sector organisations to tackle local digital skills challenges. Supported by corporate partners and other government departments, these partnerships are working to build thriving and inclusive local economies. The South East LDSP covers Kent, Essex and East Sussex and is coordinated by the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP).
Who is supported? Employed Adults, Children and Young People , Teachers, Parents, Unemployed Adults, Young Adults transitioning into work, Young People not in education, Employment or Training (NEET), Retired or Elderly
Where is the support located? South East
How many people are supported each year? 10,001 - 50,000
STEM Learning
STEM Learning
STEM Learning's mission is to improve lives through education. They are the largest provider of STEM education and careers support across the UK, delivering over 40,000 days of high quality continuing professional development a year. STEM Learning actively connect with over 200,000 teachers and host over 12,000 free STEM resources.
Who is supported? Children and Young People, Teachers, Parents
Where is the support located? Online, UK wide
How many people are supported each year? 2- 5 million
The Catalyst
The Catalyst
The Catalyst are a coalition of major foundations, digital design agencies, civil society bodies and the UK government, seeking to massively accelerate the use of digital in the UK's voluntary and charity sector.
Who is supported? Employed Adults, Children and Young People, Teachers, Parents, Unemployed Adults, Young adults transitioning into work, A young person Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET), Retired or Elderly
Where is the support located? Online, UK wide
How many people are supported each year? 1 million - 2 million
Birkbeck University of London
Computer Science and Information Systems courses
Birkbeck offers part-time evening data science and digital degree education for working people. It specialises in giving access to all, whatever background and educational level. The digital degree courses, offer a route to upskilling, work experience and access to education in data science, software engineering, computer programming, systems analysis, systems design, software development, software testing as well as AI, Natural Language and other specialised courses.
Who is supported? Employed Adults, Students, Teachers, Parents, Unemployed Adults, Young adults transitioning into work, A young person not in Education, Employment or Training(NEET), Retired or Elderly
Where is the support located? Online, London
How many people are supported each year? 10,001 - 50,000
Deloitte
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and Data Visualisation Assured Skills Academy
Deloitte has worked with the Department for the Economy and Belfast Metropolitan College to create a pipeline of highly-skilled talent in Belfast and beyond, through a pioneering robotics academy in Northern Ireland. Based at Belfast Metropolitan College, the 11-week course is part of the Assured Skills Programme, an employment initiative funded by Northern Ireland’s Department for the Economy (DfE).
Who is supported? Employed Adults, Children and Young People, Teachers, A young person not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET)
Where is the support located? Northern Ireland
How many people are supported each year? 0 - 1,000
Google Digital Garage
The Google Digital Garage is a free learning service aimed at jump-starting careers and growing businesses by developing and increasing knowledge of all things digital. Offering free end to end online courses focused on career development, data and tech plus a digital marketing course accredited by Interactive Advertising Bureau Europe and The Open University. The Google Digital Garage also provides free face to face workshops across the country.
Who is supported? Employed Adults, Young People (over 18), Teachers, Parents, Unemployed Adults, Young adults transitioning into work, A young person not in Education (over 18), Employment or Training (NEET), Retired or Elderly
Where is the support located? Online, UK wide
How many people are supported each year? 50,001 - 100,000
Barclays
Digital Eagles
Digital Eagles are passionate about empowering people to be more confident with technology and to help them move forward in the digital world. No matter where people are on their digital journey, the Digital Eagles deliver the digital skills needed to keep up to date and help people stay safe online. Tea and Teach sessions, which can be booked as a one to one session or in a group, help people get to grips with the basics of digital technology and digital safety. Their Code Playground helps young people develop the skills they need to thrive in the future.
Who is supported? Employed Adults, Children and Young People, Teachers, Parents, Unemployed Adults, Young adults transitioning into work, A young person not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET), Retired or Elderly
Where is the support located? Online, UK wide
How many people are supported each year? 100,001 - 500,000
Blueshift
Coding and technology education
Through project-based learning and an emphasis on teaching creative computing, individuals and organisations are taught about many different fields; from coding and robotics, to animation, 3D printing, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence. blue{shift} offers a private tuition service, after-school clubs at over 15 schools, holiday camps, and corporate workshops for organisations.
Who is supported? Children and Young People, Teachers, Parents, Employed Adults
Where is the support located? London
How many people are supported each year? 1,001 - 10,000
Accenture
Future Learn
A series of free online courses to help learners compete and stand out from the crowd in today’s digital workplace. The learning helps build core digital skills through bite-sized, animated videos presented by digital experts. Courses include: AI, Social Media, Digital Marketing, Retail, Analytics, User Experience or Mobile.
Who is supported? Employed Adults, Children and Young People, Unemployed Adults, Young adults transitioning into work, A young person not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET)
Where is the support located? Online
How many people are supported each year? 10,001 - 50,000
PwC
The Tech She Can Charter
The Tech She Can Charter is a commitment from over 130 organisations working collaboratively on improving the gender imbalance in technology careers.
PwC have created ‘Tech We Can’ to inspire children to consider a tech career. Including video tutorials, lesson plan slides and formats for use in years 6 - 8, it is mapped to the National Curriculum, highlights female role models and shows children the breadth of careers available in technology.
Who is supported? Teachers, Children
Where is the support located? Online and UK-wide
How many people are supported each year? 1,001 - 10,000
Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
The Digital Skills Partnership (DSP)
The Digital Skills Partnership (DSP) brings together public, private and charity sector organisations to help increase the digital capability of individuals and organisations in England. The government is also working with regional partners to help establish Local Digital Skills Partnerships (Local DSPs) across the country to tackle local digital skills challenges and build thriving and inclusive local economies.
Who is supported? Employed Adults, Children and Young People, Teachers, Parents, Unemployed Adults, Young adults transitioning into work, A young person not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET), Retired or Elderly
Where is the support located? England
How many people are supported each year? 0 - 1,000
Cisco
Cisco Networking Academy
Cisco Networking Academy is a global IT and cybersecurity education programme that Cisco delivers as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives. Cisco believe the Internet has the power to transform the world, but to make that a reality, they need people with the necessary skills. Cisco Networking Academy leverages their expertise in IT, cybersecurity, networking, IoT and other areas to deliver courses that help develop these skills through public-private partnerships.
Who is supported? Employed Adults, Children and Young People, Teachers, Parents, Unemployed Adults, Young adults transitioning into work, A young person Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET), Retired or Elderly
Where is the support located? Online and UK-wide
How many people are supported each year? 10,001 - 50,000
Apps for Good
Apps for Good
Apps for Good provides free courses that enable young people aged 10-18 to create technology solutions to tackle community problems and bring about positive change in their own lives, developing their digital skills and opening new education and career pathways. They run courses in Machine Learning, Internet of Things and app development.
Who is supported? Children and Young People, Young adults transitioning into work, Teachers
Where is the support located? Online, UK wide
How many people are supported each year? 50,001 - 100,000
Corsham Institute
Future skills
In partnership with Harvey Nash, Corsham Institute delivers Level 4 Apprenticeships in Software Development and Data Analytics Concepts – two of the most sought-after roles in the South West region. Training can be delivered through a 12-week intensive bootcamp in Wiltshire, or at client site, with monthly follow-up training and development.
Who is supported? Employed Adults, Unemployed Adults, Young Adults Transitioning into work
Where is the support located? South West
How many people are supported each year? 0 - 1,000
UK Safer Internet Centre
Helpline and Hotline
UK Safer Internet Centre is the home of online safety and the national awareness centre with one mission - to promote the safe and responsible use of technology for young people. This includes a helpline for professionals working with children and young people with online safety issues and a hotline to report and remove child sexual abuse imagery, wherever they are found in the world.
Who is supported? Employed Adults, Children and Young People, Teachers, Parents
Where is the support located? Online, UK wide
How many people are supported each year? 5 million +
Pearson
BTEC Digital Qualification
Designed in collaboration with employers and industry professionals, BTEC Level 2 Technicals help post-16 learners stand out from the crowd with the skills they need to start and succeed in their careers.
Who is supported? Employed Adults, Children and Young People, Teachers, Parents, Unemployed Adults, Young adults transitioning into work, A young person Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) and Retired or Elderly
Where is the support located? Online, UK wide
How many people are supported each year? TBC
BT
Barefoot Computing
Barefoot Computing gives primary school teachers lesson plans and teaching resources to help them deliver the primary computer science curriculum brilliantly. Barefoot CPD workshops help schools get to grips with the content. The programme is run and funded by BT in partnership with Computing at School, and is offered to schools free of charge.
Who is supported? Teachers
Where is the support located? UK wide
How many people are supported each year? 500,001 - 1 million
Digital Skills Solutions
DSS Business
DSS Business aims at strengthening businesses' performance with a wide range of B2B solutions, including managed services, such as levy brokerage.
Who is supported? Employed Adults, Unemployed Adults and Young Adults transitioning into work
Where is the support located? Online, East Midlands, West Midlands, Yorkshire and Humberside, East England, London, South East
How many people are supported each year? 0 - 1,000
DEfactoED
Shifting Mindsets to Digital
DEfactoED supplies online education courses and engagement techniques on digital to corporates and public sector. Digital awareness is a pre-requisite for successful digital transformation. DEfactoED courses are specifically designed to create digital awareness amongst non IT audiences. Their courses are proprietary e-learning, video and e-book materials, featuring digital leaders, that introduce employees to the fundamentals of the new ‘digital world’.
Who is supported?Employed Adults, Unemployed Adults, Students, Young adults transitioning into work
Where is the support located? Online and UK-wide
How many people are supported each year? 10,001 - 50,000
Amazon
AWS re/Start
AWS re/Start is a full-time, classroom-based skills development and training program that prepares individuals for careers in the cloud and connects them to potential employers. A technology background is not required to apply and the program is focused on unemployed or underemployed individuals, including military veterans and their families, and young people.
Who is supported? Unemployed Adults, Young Adults transitioning into work, Young People not in education, Employment or Training (NEET)
Where is the support located? UK wide
How many people are supported each year? 0 - 1,000
Deloitte
Deloitte UK’s Return to Work Retraining Programme
Deloitte’s Return to Work Retraining Programme with Makers Academy, offers careers in software development to those who have been out of the workforce for two or more years. Programme participants are permanently employed by Deloitte and complete a level four Software Developer Apprenticeship qualification in the first 12 months.
Who is supported? Unemployed Adults, A young person not in Employment or Training (NEET)
Where is the support located? London
How many people are supported each year? 0 - 1,000
Glasgow Life
Codeworks
A range of free and accredited digital skills courses. Includes basics, coding for a career boost and also developing websites. Codeworks is made possible by the J.P. Morgan Chase Foundation.
Who is supported? Employed Adults, Unemployed Adults, Young adults transitioning into work, A young person not in education, Employment or Training (NEET), Retired or Elderly
Where is the support located? Online, Scotland
How many people are supported each year? 1,001 - 10,000
Good Things Foundation
Power Up
Power Up will drive increased economic and social inclusion by funding organisations active in jobs and skills, financial health and small business support to embed digital skills into their provision. By doing this, people and businesses will be supported to gain digital skills and the motivation and confidence to apply these skills in their work and life.
Who is supported? Unemployed adults, Employed adults
Where is the support located? London, South West, Scotland
How many people are supported each year? 0 - 1,000
Good Things Foundation
Learn My Way
Learn My Way is a website of free online courses for beginners, helping to develop digital skills to make the most of the online world.
Who is supported? Employed Adults, Unemployed Adults, Retired or Elderly
Where is the support located? Online
How many people are supported each year? 100,001 - 500,000
KPMG
IT's Her Future
To help more women get into Technology, KPMG’s IT’s Her Future provides mentors, internal and external events, networking opportunities and targeted training e.g. 6 week coding courses, as well as opportunities to serve as non-executive members of boards, even from a junior level.
Who is supported? Employed Adults, Children and Young People
Where is the support located? London, North West
How many people are supported each year? 0 - 1000
Lloyds Banking Group
Digital Champions
LBG have over 23,000 Digital Champions based all over the UK. These colleague volunteers have each pledged to help 2 individuals, charities or businesses each year improve their digital skills in their local communities. LBG have developed training modules for our colleagues so they can upskill themselves and feel comfortable both using digital, and helping others to do the same.
Who is supported? Employed Adults, Children and Young People, Teachers, Parents, Unemployed Adults, Young adults transitioning into work, A young person not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET), Retired or Elderly
Where is the support located? Online, UK wide
How many people are supported each year? 500-001 - 1 million
PWC
New world. New skills.
Everyone should be able to live, learn, work and participate in the digital world. The discrepancy between the skills people have and those they need is one of the critical problems of our time.
Over the next four years, PwC are committing US$3bn to upskilling, primarily invested in training our people and in technologies for supporting clients and communities helping to make the world a more resilient, capable and inclusive place.
Who is supported? Employed adults, Young people
Where is the support located? UK wide
How many people are supported each year? 100,001-500,000
CAST
Better Digital Services
A framework of 10 principles for charities that articulate effective digital service delivery.
Who is supported? Employed Adults, Children and Young People, Teachers, Parents, Unemployed Adults, Young adults transitioning into work, A young person Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET), Retired or Elderly
Where is the support located? Online, UK wide
How many people are supported each year? 1 million - 2 million
To see the full list of initiatives, download our directory here
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