Over the coming weeks and months, it will be interesting to see how IT upskilling is factored into the government’s education investment plans, as announced in Wednesday’s Autumn Budget.
The reality is that although the digital revolution has been ongoing for years, the IT skills gap is widening. With consequences for all industries – from engineering to law, financial services to healthcare – as well as future employees.
The next generation needs to be digitally fluent to ensure their future success. Whether they pursue an IT career or not, these skills allow people to leverage the right tools, adapt to evolving technologies, and unlock their full potential.
What’s more, digital literacy promotes productivity and safety. It safeguards individuals from online threats, such as AI-generated misinformation and cyber threats, and equips them to harness the power of AI responsibly – at work and in their personal lives.
As such, it’s essential that a portion of the funding promised on Wednesday is dedicated to providing students with the IT tools and knowledge to thrive. With this in place, we can build our future talent pipeline, push the UK forward in its digital evolution, and avoid Reeves’ concern that the UK will fall behind other countries in the technology race.
