Check against delivery. First delivered to a Power to Connect event in Battersea Park in April 2025.
Introduction: The Power of Digital Connection
Good evening everyone. I'm delighted to be here supporting the remarkable Power To Connect charity.
First, I want to offer my heartfelt congratulations to Power To Connect for the transformative work you're doing. Your impact in providing devices to those in need, supporting schools and community organizations, and delivering digital skills training is making a genuine difference in people's lives. I'd particularly like to thank Mary Bonsor, one of the trustees, for her dedication and inviting me here today..
My Journey: From Harlow to Westminster
My passion for skills and apprenticeships began in Harlow, my former constituency. I met young people with incredible potential who were being denied opportunities simply because they couldn't access the right training. In constituency surgeries, I encountered teenagers from some of our most disadvantaged estates with natural technical abilities who were struggling in traditional academic settings. They couldn't see a future for themselves. But when local companies offered them apprenticeships, their transformations were remarkable.
Throughout my fourteen-plus years in Parliament, I've fought tooth and nail for skills and apprenticeships because I've seen first-hand how the proper training at the right time can transform lives. When I was Skills Minister, this conviction only deepened as I witnessed countless success stories across the country.
Understanding the Digital Skills Gap
Digital skills today represent what I call the modern ladder of opportunity.
But what exactly do we mean by "digital skills"? They encompass everything from fundamental abilities—using email, navigating the internet, and understanding online safety—to advanced competencies in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and coding.
The Lloyds Bank Consumer Digital Index, one of the UK's most extensive digital and financial capability studies, consistently shows that millions of people in our country still lack the most basic digital skills needed for everyday life. These are people unable to perform tasks like sending emails or making online purchases.
In 2018, approximately 8% of the UK population (4.3 million people) lacked basic digital skills, meaning they could not perform tasks like sending emails or making online purchases.
A further 12% (6.4 million adults) had limited digital abilities, missing at least one of the basic digital skills.
By 2025, it is estimated that 7.9 million people in the UK will still lack digital skills, highlighting the ongoing challenge
Research from the Learning and Work Institute highlights a significant gap between workers' digital skills and what employers need. As we transition to an increasingly digital economy, this gap represents a challenge for individuals and a substantial economic issue for the country.
The digital divide disproportionately affects the disadvantaged. The Good Things Foundation's research demonstrates that digital exclusion correlates strongly with other forms of social and economic disadvantage. Those from low-income households, older adults, and people with disabilities are more likely to be digitally excluded.
During the pandemic, these challenges became painfully visible. In constituencies nationwide, MPs encountered families where multiple children attempted to complete schoolwork on limited devices with limited connectivity. During lockdown, the Sutton Trust documented significant disparities in digital access between advantaged and disadvantaged schools.
The Evidence for Digital Transformation
The evidence for the transformative power of digital skills is compelling. Multiple studies have shown that individuals with digital skills earn significantly more over their lifetime. For those completing digital apprenticeships, this earnings premium is even more substantial.
Research consistently demonstrates that businesses with digitally skilled workforces are more productive and profitable than those without. Digital skills aren't just beneficial for individuals—they drive economic growth at the national level.
During my time as Skills Minister, I've witnessed real-life transformations. Adults who had lost jobs in traditional sectors found new careers after digital skills training. Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds access opportunities that would have been impossible without digital literacy.
Power To Connect: Practical Solutions in Action
Organisations like Power To Connect are at the frontline of addressing this challenge. Your three-pronged approach—making technology accessible, connecting communities, and recycling electronic waste—delivers real results. The testimonials from educators like Emilie Haston, Head Teacher at Goldfinch Primary, who noted that your work provided "a lifeline" during lockdown, demonstrate your real impact.
What sets you apart is your practical approach. I've seen too many well-intentioned initiatives lost in bureaucracy and theory. You're ‘Makers’ not moaners. You focus on practical solutions that change lives.
Reforming Policy to Close the Digital Divide
The government must also play its part.
We should reform the Apprenticeship Levy to support disadvantaged learners specifically. This means:
- Ringfencing a portion of levy funds specifically for learners from disadvantaged backgrounds;
- Providing additional funding for digital skills apprenticeships in sectors with identified skills shortages;
- Offering enhanced subsidies for employers who recruit apprentices from areas of high deprivation.
The UK Skills Fund must also be geographically targeted. Research has identified numerous digital skills "cold spots" around the country – areas where poor connectivity, limited training provision, and socioeconomic disadvantage combine to create digital deserts. Directing resources to these areas would yield the most significant social and economic returns.
Curriculum Reform and Digital Integration
The educational approach to digital skills requires significant reform. As highlighted in Professor Becky Francis's March 2025 Curriculum and Assessment Review Interim Report:
"The curriculum needs to respond to social and technological change." The review notes, "The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and trends in digital information demand heightened media literacy and critical thinking, as well as digital skills."
The report emphasises that while subject-specific knowledge remains essential, attention is needed to equip young people with the knowledge and skills to thrive in a fast-changing world. According to the review, young people and parents consistently desire more applied expertise in specific areas to support readiness for life and work, with polling showing finance and budgeting, digital skills, and employment skills among the most requested focus areas.
Immersive Learning
Immersive Learning platforms revolutionise education and careers guidance by bringing them into the digital age with interactive, immersive experiences that resonate with today's generations.
Available across multiple devices at any time, it eliminates geographical and socioeconomic barriers that have traditionally limited access to quality careers advice. The platforms democratises opportunity by providing universal access to comprehensive, personalised, and impartial guidance regardless of background or location, effectively creating a level playing field where all users can explore diverse career and skills paths through virtual simulations. It challenges outdated hierarchies by giving equal prominence to technical and academic routes, continuously updates to reflect the evolving job market, accommodates different learning styles and accessibility needs, and serves as an "Open University of Careers Advice" for young people and adults seeking new opportunities.
Targeting Support to the Most Disadvantaged
To ensure the most disadvantaged can access digital skills, we need targeted, evidence-based interventions:
- Community Digital Hubs: Research suggests that community-based learning increases digital skills adoption among disadvantaged groups compared to centralised provision. We should establish new Community Digital Hubs in areas of high deprivation, offering free training, device access, and support.
- Digital Skills Entitlement: Every adult lacking basic digital skills should have a funded entitlement to free training, regardless of prior qualification levels. This investment would generate substantial economic returns through increased productivity and employment.
- Digital Access Fund: Transport costs remain a significant barrier to accessing training, particularly in rural areas. A dedicated Digital Access Fund could provide transport subsidies and remote learning options for those in isolated communities.
- Digital Mentorship Program: Peer support has been shown to increase digital skills retention. A national Digital Mentorship Program could pair skilled volunteers with disadvantaged learners.
- Mobile Training Units: Building on Power To Connect's successful model, mobile training units could be expanded to reach communities with limited access to fixed training facilities.
International Perspective: Learning from Global Approaches
As we consider our approach to digital skills in the UK, it's valuable to look at what other countries are doing. While direct comparisons are complex due to different economic, social, and educational contexts, there are some verified approaches worth noting:
Estonia has built a strong reputation for digital government and education. According to the European Commission's Digital Economy and Society Index 2022, Estonia ranks among the top EU countries for digital public services and digital skills development. Their education system integrates digital literacy from primary school, with programming introduced early in the curriculum.
The OECD's 2021 report "Digital Education at School in Europe" confirms that several countries have implemented digital skills strategies with measurable results. Finland, Denmark, and Sweden consistently rank at the top of digital skills indices, with government-funded programs that prioritize accessibility and inclusivity.
Singapore's SkillsFuture initiative represents a significant government commitment to lifelong learning, including digital skills development. The program provides credits for Singaporeans to use on approved courses.
The World Economic Forum's "Global Competitiveness Report 2020" highlights South Korea and Japan as leaders in technological readiness and digital skills adoption. Both countries are investing substantially in digital infrastructure and education.
These international examples demonstrate not specific statistics but broader principles: sustained government commitment, integration of digital skills throughout education, public-private partnerships, and targeting resources to address inequalities of access and opportunity.
Looking Forward: A Digital Future for All
Drawing on these international insights, I see three key priorities for accelerating digital inclusion in the UK:
First, we need concrete business-education partnerships. The Federation of Small Businesses has identified the lack of digital skills as a significant barrier to technology adoption among small firms. We need to significantly increase high-quality digital apprenticeships with companies across sectors—real apprenticeships, with real wages, leading to real jobs.
Second, digital skills must be embedded throughout education. The Royal Society has documented that many secondary schools don't offer Computer Science as a GCSE option. Every child deserves digital literacy as a core entitlement from primary school onwards.
Third, we need targeted support for the most disadvantaged. Cost remains a significant barrier to digital inclusion for many. Mobile training initiatives and community-based support programs have shown promise in reaching underserved populations.
Conclusion: The Ladder of Digital Opportunity
The economic imperative is clear: the UK needs millions of people with advanced digital skills in the coming years to remain competitive globally. But beyond economics, this is about social justice. In a world where accessing public services, applying for jobs, and connecting with loved ones increasingly happens online, digital exclusion is a new form of disenfranchisement.
As Satya Nadella, Microsoft CEO, has powerfully observed:
"Digital technology is pervasively getting embedded in every place: everything, every person, every walk of life is affected by digital technology—no matter what you do. It doesn't matter if you're in retail, education, entertainment, or manufacturing; digital technology is transforming what you do."
In this rapidly changing landscape, Klaus Schwab, Founder of the World Economic Forum, reminds us:
"In the new world, it is not the big fish that eats the small fish; it's the fast fish that eats the slow fish."
We must ensure our young people are equipped not just with knowledge but with the agility to adapt in a digital world.
Our digital skills mission isn't just about teaching people to use technology. It's about democratising opportunity in the 21st century, ensuring that the revolution that has transformed our economy, our society, and our daily lives doesn't leave anyone behind, and recognising that in a digital world, digital skills aren't optional—they're essential rights that enable full participation in society.
Power To Connect embodies this mission in the most practical, tangible way—device by device, person by person, community by community. You're not just recycling technology; you're recycling opportunities. You're not just providing training; you're giving transformation.
When I think about the future I want to build, it's one where digital skills are as fundamental to education as reading and writing. Every person, regardless of age, background, or circumstance, has the tools and knowledge to thrive in a digital society. This isn't idealism; it's a necessity. This isn't charity; it's investment in our collective future.
I really believe that we can make digital access a reality for everyone. The digital ladder of opportunity is here. Let's grab it with both hands and climb rung by rung, ensuring no one is left at the bottom.
Thank you.
