Consultancies back new Digital Skills Charter
Leaders from the consulting sector have recently leant their names to a new document from social impact organisation FutureDotNow. The digital skills charity’s new Digital Skills Charter, which has been backed by firms including Accenture, Amey, Oliver Wyman and PwC, aims to unite industry and civil society around action on essential workplace digital skills.
21.7 million people, or roughly 54% of the UK workforce, lack basic and essential digital skills. This is not an advanced skills gap – with millions of UK workers reportedly struggling with tasks such as accessing online payslips, using collaboration tools, and basic online safety. It is also present across all regions, sectors, income levels, and education backgrounds across the UK.
Established in December 2019, FutureDotNow is a coalition of industry leaders, working to unite business to close the essential digital skills gap in the UK workforce. By closing the digital skills gap for working-age adults, the charity hopes to support economic growth, while “breaking down barriers to opportunity for all”.
One of the latest ways FutureDotNow has sought to convene business leaders around this task is through the launch of the Workforce Digital Skills Charter. The digital skills coalition has developed the Charter in collaboration with industry stakeholders to help guide collective ambition and truly move the dial on largely hidden skills gap that threatens productivity, prosperity and growth.
Among the first signatories are UK business voices and household names, including Barclays, CIPD, Cisco, Lloyds Banking Group, M&S, Nationwide, and Salesforce. At the same time, a sizeable cohort of consultancies have backed the charter, including Accenture, Amey , Oliver Wyman, and PwC. They have also joined FutureDotNow in calling on the new government to support a ‘Great Digital Catch Up’.
Deborah O’Neill, head of digital Europe for Oliver Wyman, commented, “It is clear the closure of the digital skills gap can only be achieved through robust cross-sector collaboration and imperative to also recognise that closing this gap is crucial for driving the UK growth agenda, optimising productivity, and unlocking new opportunities. Through this pioneering initiative, the Charter serves as a unifying force, providing a focal point that brings together industry, government, and civil society in a collective effort to address the significant digital skills gap within the UK workforce.”
As noted in the charter, building a digitally capable workforce could secure and grow jobs, boost economic opportunities in all regions and ensure we keep pace with the world. Without action, the skills gap will widen, leaving many unable to access good jobs or essential public services, which will only be exacerbated by the predicted impact of AI and automation.
Michael Burgess, chief people officer of Amey, added, “The digital skills gap is a pressing yet often underestimated challenge. At Amey, we operate a unique ecosystem of technology and data platforms, and we are dedicated to ensuring that as technology continues to evolve, working-age adults across the UK are equipped, informed, and empowered to thrive in the modern workforce. Amey is thrilled to partner with FutureDotNow and join other innovative businesses in launching the Workforce Digital Skills Charter, marking a crucial step in reducing the digital skills gap.”
