According to Go. On UK’s survey, more than 12 million people, and a million of small businesses do not possess the digital skills needed to succeed in today’s digital environment.
These skills include managing information, such as using search engines and bookmarks; communicating on a personal or business level; transacting, which ranges from ordering shopping online to maximising selling potential; problem solving, and creating basic digital content, whether a social media post or an informal website.
“We should be striving to be the most digitally forward nation”.
“The fact that millions of adults can not do four things online we deem as the lowest level of entry to the internet not only holds them back, but also holds the country back”.
There is bad news for Wales where over a third of the population do not have the five basic digital skills as defined by the charity. I would argue that’s partly why we have the productivity challenges we do. “The people who can benefit most from these things are also the most excluded”.
It demonstrates that Greater London has the highest level of tech know-how, with 84 per cent of adults possessing the basics, with Scotland and East Anglia (both 81 per cent) following close behind.
Eileen Naughton, MD of Google United Kingdom and Ireland, added: “Making the most of digital is good for businesses, charities and local communities, but developing the right skills and staying on top the latest technology isn’t always easy”.
Likelihood of digital exclusion is ranked on nine tiers, with nine indicating high likelihood and one indicating low.
“Go On United Kingdom has developed its new mapping tool, not only to support those working in the digital skills and inclusion sector, but to provide the data to highlight the scope and local variance of this issue, and make the case for the social and economic importance of universal basic digital skills”.
The map also shows that women are in a slight disadvantage.
An area’s final score is based on several key indicators, including age, income, infrastructure, the digital skills level of the area and how often those skills are used.
“If the United Kingdom is to become the competitive, successful global economy and society that we need to be, then we urgently need to work together to give these… organisations the skills they need to participate fully in the digital world”.
New research has shown there are 23% of adults in the North West who lack “basic digital skills”, with areas like Liverpool, Knowsley and Wirral having what is described as a “medium” likelihood of exclusion.
But the charity says the United Kingdom isn’t doing too badly compared with other countries when it comes to broadband availability, and in our use of mobile devices we are ahead of many of our rivals.
