Improving access to the services our residents need, and the skills, knowledge and confidence to participate in our increasingly digital world.
We’re working to reduce the barriers that make it difficult for residents and businesses to access and use digital services.
Digital inclusion and skills is one of the West of England Digital Plan priority areas.
Digital inclusion ensures that all individuals and communities have access to and can effectively use digital technologies.
Digital inclusion gives people the ability to access and use services and opportunities in a practical, equitable and meaningful way, thus ensuring the benefits of the internet and digital technologies are available to everyone. In our increasingly digital world, digital inclusion is essential to bridging the digital divide.
Our Digital Plan for the West of England outlines our strategic objectives. We want to:
Around 1.9 million (+/- 500,000) UK households with fixed broadband found it difficult to afford their fixed broadband service, and 1.6 million (+/- 400,000) UK households with a mobile phone had difficulty affording their mobile phone service.
Around two-thirds of households that found it difficult to afford communications services also experienced affordability issues with other household items.
Thirty-one per cent of decision makers who are eligible to apply for a social tariff were aware of broadband and/or mobile social tariffs.
One in 20 people aged 16+ do not have access to the internet at home with more than a quarter citing affordability as the main issue.
Almost a fifth of internet users only use a smartphone to go online, and some feel disadvantaged by this.
Digital exclusion due to lack of skills/capability disproportionately affects older generations more.
Nationally, 8.5m people lack basic digital skills.
92% of UK businesses say there is a digital skills gap.
76% say the internet helps them connect with family and friends.
Grants and support enabling businesses to bridge technology and skills gaps.
Skills, training and career support in the West of England to help you get to where you want to be.
Free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, giving people the opportunity to build up sector-specific skills and fast-track to an interview with an employer.
Fixing the digital divide.
Information on computer and internet access in libraries.
The National Databank provides free SIM cards and mobile data (as well as talk minutes and texts) to people in need.
Digital technologies are revolutionising almost every aspect of our lives. The Mayoral Combined Authority is committed to ensuring the benefits of digital technologies and the internet are available to everyone.
Our ethos is that digital transformation must put people first, be ethical and be fair. We want digital transformation to deliver better outcomes for people and place.
Read the Digital plan to discover the region's digital priorities and ambitions, and how digital inclusion and skills play a crucial role in delivering achieving our goals.