Grow the UK’s high-level data and analytics skills by ensuring that the Government’s retraining scheme has digital skills embedded

In response to the CBI’s report published this morning entitled Changing Nature of R&D, which includes as a recommendation to ensure that the Government’s retraining scheme has digital skills embedded, including targeted support for software engineering and data analysis skills.

Helen Milner OBE, Chief Executive of Good Things Foundation – a social change charity, helping people to improve their lives through digital, said:

“Good Things Foundation welcomes the CBI’s new report into the Changing Nature of R&D and the recommendation to grow the UK’s capability and capacity in high-level data and analytics skills by ensuring that the Government’s retraining scheme has digital skills embedded. We know the importance of digital skills. Research has shown that currently 11.3 million adults lack one or more of the basic digital skills for life and work. This comes at a cost to our economy, to our society and to individuals. The time is now to rectify this, which is why we are calling on Government to make digital a social priority – bringing social inclusion and digital inclusion together to develop practical solutions to the big challenges facing society today and in the future.

“The digital transformation of our economy and our society brings huge advantages and opportunities, and we must make sure that everyone has the skills to participate.

“The report highlights the increasing demand from digital companies for employees with data analytics skills and software engineering skills. By upskilling the entire population in digital skills, our research has shown that the UK can benefit by £21.9 billion. We’ve helped over 2.7 million people improve their digital skills since 2010, but as this report shows, there is still more to do, which is why we’re calling on organisations big and small, and from all and any sector, to commit to the partner goal of a 100% digitally included nation by 2028.”