In 2017, the European Commission estimated that over 1.2 million UK businesses were underperforming due to ‘insufficient digital awareness and lack of necessary skills’.
Back in 2015, the House of Lords stated that digital skills should be taught as the third ‘core subject’ alongside numeracy and literacy, and a Government report in 2019 found digital skills are becoming near-universal requirements.
What’s key is providing employees with a basic level of digital skill and creating the platform for them to progress. Too often, companies invest in expensive software and systems to improve digital performance and wonder why it hasn’t done what they thought.
FutureDotNow carried out research based on 20 digital skills tasks that industry and Government agree are essential for work, and the number-one missing skill was using digital tools in the workplace. Within education, 26 per cent are unable to improve their own or their organisation’s productivity using digital tools.
As with most sectors, early years has seen increased digital adoption over the last few years. But with this use of technology must come the digital skills to go alongside. NCFE’s report highlighted the number of experienced professionals leaving the sector, and digital skills can and should form part of career progression opportunities to help retain knowledge in the workforce.
There is embarrassment in admitting to poor digital skills. There is also a misconception that they are only a weakness for older people; however, this isn’t the case.
At NCFE, we set out to allow our staff to better understand their digital skills level, without fear of being named and shamed. Data showed that 229 colleagues, from the CEO to flexible workers, underwent an initial assessment; 7 per cent came out at Entry Level 3, and 93 per cent at Level 1. We saw 173 go on to access resources to develop their essential digital skills. Even if a colleague does one thing to gain more confidence, that has a significant impact on their ability to perform at work or in life.
You can measure a workforce’s confidence and abilities in digital skills – while providing an easy path to upskill. That is why we are asking people of all ages and abilities to complete our free digital assessment and get a better understanding of their own skills.
- Take NCFE’s digital assessment here
- FutureDotNow
