Peanuts for digital innovations skills


A new Digital Skills Innovation Fund has been announced by the government.


The £1 million Fund announced by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, will help people from underrepresented groups gain the skills they need to work in digital roles.


The new fund is now open for bids from Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and Combined Authorities for initiatives which specifically aim to help people take up digital roles.


The funding will be used to help women, disabled people, people from minority backgrounds or those living in lower socioeconomic areas to succeed in digital roles such as data analysts, programmers, cyber security specialists and software developers.


Digital minister Margot James also announced that a new £400,000 Digital Inclusion Fund has also been launched to help older and disabled people acquire digital skills. Innovative projects are expected to include the teaching of basic skills such as booking GP appointments online, using apps to communicate with friends and family, and making the most of search engines.


The £1 million is peanuts compared to the government’s £190 million Local Full Fibre Networks Challenge Fund which was launched to boost commercial investment in networks across the whole of the UK. 


James announced that the final tranche of £95 million is to be awarded to projects that will enable gigabit capable connections to key public buildings and businesses and also encourage broadband providers to create additional connections to local homes and businesses.


www.gov.uk/government/news/new-funds-to-boost-diversity-of-people-working-in-digital-and-tech-jobs


www.gov.uk/government/news/95-million-full-fibre-broadband-boost-for-local-authorities