We are establishing multiple potential touchpoints to reach individuals at scale, driving national impact.
As well as tackling systemic issues (see Enablers), it’s critical to build a framework for scale impact with diverse pathways to reach working-age adults.
In 2025, FutureDotNow will stand up four priority Pathways and one influence Pathway. For each of these, at least one sponsoring organisation will act as champions to drive collective action.
Under each Pathway, multiple action communities will each have a specific focus. These will provide multiple touchpoints that reach working-age adults who need help to build their workforce digital skills.
If you’d like be involved in any of the Pathway action communities, you can register your interest here.
Pathway 1: Sector
Focusing on the needs and nuances of specific industry sectors.
Pathway 2: Place
Galvanising regional activity, including via local stakeholders.
Pathway 3: Skill area
Focusing on specific digital skills areas, e.g. online safety.
Pathway 4: Not in Work
Exploring the needs of working-age adults not in work (not retired).
Influence pathway: Breaking the cycle for young people
While FutureDotNow’s focus continues to be the needs of the current working population, this action community will identify and influence key stakeholders who share the objective of ensuring every young person leaves education workforce-ready.
More information
Pathway 1: Sector
In 2025 sector-based action communities will each be sponsored by (ideally) two business leaders. They will:
- Raise awareness of the digital skills gap in their sector and the opportunity to be realised
- Inspire and encourage action to help people increase their digital capability
- Work together as part of the national change programme to supercharge action on workforce digital skills
- Review asks and priorities
Priority sectors for 2025
Pathway 2: Place
Place-based action communities will raise profile of workforce digital skills e.g. via Metropolitan mayors, local authorities etc. They will:
- Raise awareness of the essential digital skill gap in their region and the opportunity to be realised through concerted action
- Inspire and encourage action to help people of working age to build solid digital foundations
- Work together as part of the national change programme to supercharge local action on workforce digital skills
- Review asks and priorities
In 2025, we will aim to stand up at least two local action communities.
Current skills levels for the regions and nations of the UK
As a charity, FutureDotNow operates in England and Wales. This doesn’t prevent similar action in Scotland and Northern Ireland but it won’t be prioritised.
Pathway 3: Skill Area
In 2025, one or more action communities will focus on how to uplift capability in key skill areas within the essential digital skills framework. They will:
- Raise awareness of the digital skills gap in and the opportunity to be realised through concerted action
- Inspire and encourage action to help people increase their digital capability
- Work together as part of the national change programme to supercharge action on workforce digital skills
- Review asks and priorities
The skill areas that make up the Essential Digital Skills Framework
Pathway 4: Not in Work
An action community will focus specifically on the needs of those of working age who are not in work and not retired who have significantly lower levels of essential digital skills for work than the national average.
The percentage of Work tasks than can be completed by those not in work
Influence pathway: Breaking the cycle for young people
FutureDotNow’s primary focus will continue to be on the needs of the current working population. However, without action to break the cycle of young people entering the workforce without the essential digital skills for work, our work will never be done.
This workstream will identify key stakeholders working with children and young people who share the objective of ensuring young people are workforce-ready.
