Thousands of people across the UK are set to benefit from free digital training as the government launches a major new initiative aimed at helping more people shop around for cheaper deals online and fully participate in the digital economy.
Unveiled today by the Minister for Digital Inclusion, Liz Lloyd, the £11.7 million Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund will back 80 local schemes across the country, supporting people who are at risk of being left behind as more services move online.
Projects funded under the scheme will operate in communities from Leeds to London, Bristol to Nottingham, focusing on improving digital access, skills and confidence. The government says the initiative is designed to help raise living standards, boost employment prospects and support its wider ambitions for national renewal.
The announcement follows growing concern about the scale of digital exclusion in the UK. Research suggests around 8 million adults still lack basic digital skills, while an estimated 1.6 million people remain offline altogether. This digital divide prevents many from accessing online government services, managing their finances digitally, searching for jobs or finding better value deals on everyday essentials.
By offering free, locally delivered training, ministers hope to remove some of the practical barriers that prevent people from engaging confidently online, particularly those on lower incomes, older people and vulnerable groups.
Commenting on the initiative, Kadams Radhakrishnan, Chief Technical Director at Lyca Mobile, welcomed the funding but stressed that training must be matched with affordable access to connectivity.
“The investment from the Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund is an important step to reach people across the UK in need of greater digital skills and access to the internet, but it should form part of a wider picture,” he said. “For many, a mobile phone is their main route to accessing online banking, digital healthcare and staying connected with friends and family, so improving confidence online can have an immediate impact on people’s lives.”
He added that connectivity should be treated as an essential service rather than a luxury.
“Connection is essential, not optional,” Radhakrishnan said. “So alongside digital training, everyone needs access to affordable mobile connectivity, through affordable data plans, simple and accessible guides and the demystification of next-gen mobile technology to enable people to stay connected and make the most of the online world.”
The government says lessons learned from the 80 funded projects will help shape future digital inclusion policies, with the long-term goal of getting more people online and ensuring they can benefit from the opportunities technology offers.
Ministers believe that improving digital skills at a community level could have wide-ranging benefits, from boosting employment and financial resilience to improving access to healthcare and making everyday tasks — such as comparing prices or managing bills — quicker and easier.
As the UK economy becomes increasingly digital-first, the success of the fund will be closely watched by policymakers and businesses alike, with digital inclusion seen as a critical factor in ensuring growth is both sustainable and inclusive.