Ufi and leading organisations sign FutureDotNow’s Workforce Digital Skills Charter
Ufi is proud to sign the Workforce Digital Skills Charter to help close the digital skills gap across the UK.
Ufi, alongside a group of leading organisations, have signed FutureDotNow’s Charter, a shared statement of ambition for concerted action to close the essential digital skills gap in the UK workforce.
As highlighted by FutureDotNow, closing the workforce digital skills gap presents an opportunity rather than merely a challenge.
Currently over half of working adults cannot perform all the 20 digital tasks industry and government agree are vital for today’s workplace. That is approximately 22 million adults who are unable to do things like check a payslip online, set secure passwords, or use digital tools to improve productivity. This is against the backdrop of the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, adding urgency due to the risk of major workforce displacement.
The Charter has been launched to unite employers around the joint mission to close this critical skills gap. Ufi has signed the Charter with over 100 cross-sector organisations, including M&S, Lloyds Banking Group, PwC, techUK, Accenture, Barclays, Salesforce and Nationwide. The coalition is calling on the government to support a ‘Great Digital Catch Up’ for working-age adults, to boost economic growth and break down barriers to opportunity for all.
Through our questions in Learning and Work Institute's Adult Participation in Learning Survey, we have seen how this shortage of essential digital skills could be contributing to a lack of confidence when using technology to learn and work. For example, despite 95 per cent of people using technology as part of learning and work, only two in five adults are confident in joining video meetings for work (40 per cent) or for learning (39 per cent).
Developing a digitally skilled workforce will not only ensure economic opportunities and global competitiveness but will also strengthen resilience against cyber threats and support adults to engage in learning, benefiting individuals and organisations alike across the UK.
Together with FutureDotNow, the coalition of industry voices aims to build a future-fit, digitally confident workforce to ensure everyone has the digital skills needed to prosper in work now and in the future.
The primary goals of the Workforce Digital Skills Charter are to raise awareness of current digital skill levels across the workforce, inspire organisations to take action, and underscore to policymakers the importance of this issue.
As part of the workforce Digital Skills Charter, Ufi have committed to:
- Raising awareness of the essential digital skills gap in the workforce and the opportunity to be realised through concerted action.
- Working together as part of a national change programme to supercharge action on workforce digital skills.
- Empowering people of working age to build-solid digital foundations.
Josh Smith, Head of Public Affairs at Ufi, said:
“To ensure every adult in the UK has the opportunity to thrive we must build a digitally confident workforce, where productivity stems not just from technology but from effective utilisation. With over half of working adults lacking crucial digital skills, in every age group and every part of the workforce, there's an urgent need to address this gap and empower individuals to thrive in the digital age.”
Liz Williams MBE, CEO at FutureDotNow, said:
“The world has become digital by default, and it is vital that we take action to help adults build strong digital foundations and confidence. With millions of working-age adults lacking essential digital skills, the stakes and potential benefits of addressing this issue are enormous. A digitally fluent workforce will boost growth, productivity, and create new opportunities for all.
“Many businesses are already leading the way, and the Workforce Digital Skills Charter represents a public commitment to take action, both individually and collectively, to build a future-fit, digitally confident workforce. Together, we can drive change at a greater pace and close the workforce digital skills gap for the benefit of us all.”
Join us on our journey of paving the way for a future where digital skills are not just desirable, but essential. Find out more at www.futuredotnow.uk/charter.
