Three ways to supercharge digital skills in the workplace and beyond

77% of UK organisations have increased spending on digital technology, according to our latest research with Cebr.

Yet employees and citizens lack the digital skills needed to make the most of this technology.

Digitalisation is essential for driving efficiencies in the public sector, bringing complex workstreams together for more impactful collaboration and engagement. But new technology won’t deliver unless people have the skills to use it.

Overall digital skills shortages could cost the economy up to £63 billion a year. So it is critical that we can empower employees and citizens to develop the digital skills they need to thrive.

And it’s not just about productivity – digital inclusion ensures everyone has equal access to critical services such as healthcare and education and keeps our communities connected.

What role can you play in creating digital upskilling initiatives that have impact both in the workplace and beyond?

There’s no use in trying to upskill your community without a specific strategy behind your efforts.

To understand how you can think smartly about digital inclusion, consider the role your employees can play and the obstacles you may face to getting the entirety of your organisation behind you.

Aligning initiatives to your organisational skillset are key to engaging employees and delivering maximum impact for those you aim to support.

But to make a real impact, you may first need to look within your organisation. 30% of UK respondents say a lack of digital skills amongst employees has been a key barrier to implementing digital initiatives in recent years, according to our recent digital culture research.

Does your workforce need upskilling and support first before you look outwards to local communities? Or do your employees have exactly the skills that are desperately needed across the UK?

The latter is the thinking behind our Connect More programme, which is celebrating it’s second-year anniversary this month.

The initiative, which empowers Virgin Media O₂ employees to give their time offering digital skills training to communities in need, has evolved to deliver nationwide impact.

With almost 800 hours given back to the community and over 1,200 people supported, Connect More has allowed our employees to make a tangible difference across the UK.

And it has helped people stayed connected to their communities, giving them the skills to access vital services and stay in touch with friends and family. Whatever your unique situation, doing the work upfront will make it easier to deliver impactful digital skills training across your community.

Upskilling your employees is a key part of any digital strategy. But digital skills don’t just boost the productivity of your employees. They can make them happier and more comfortable at work and empower them to work in innovative ways.

So consider the full HR picture. What is preventing your employees from reaching their full potential?

One in three people say their lack of digital skills has prevented them from getting a promotion, according to our Connect More research. And almost two in three say it contributes to stress and anxiety.

These kinds of responses can have a long-lasting impact on your organisation. Addressing them requires thinking beyond just a single initiative.

Instead, digital upskilling needs to be embedded into the fabric of your organisation, with regular touchpoints and a robust way of measuring progress.

That could be as simple as prioritising training that offers certifications and a progressive curriculum through a partner such as LinkedIn to keep employees motivated.

Or it could take a larger cultural shift to get your employees excited about the possibilities of technology by introducing working policies for tools such as generative-AI or augmented reality.

These regular touchpoints are also important for delivering more for citizens. The technology that we use today won’t be the technology we use tomorrow.

And remember, digitally upskilling your employees will bring out the best from your team in terms of innovation too. They’ll discover better ways of working that benefit everyone.

With such rapid advancements, more digitally conscious employees are crucial to helping you deliver services that are accessible to all. Reviewing your digital services from both an employee and citizen perspective will ensure you can best connect the two.