Technology for All: Ensuring the UK’s Digital Future Leaves No One Behind

Technology is transforming our world at an unprecedented pace. From artificial intelligence to advanced manufacturing and renewable energy, the UK stands at the forefront of innovation. However, while new developments bring immense opportunities, we must ensure that these benefits reach every part of our country. Places like my community of Weston, Worle and the villages have historically been overlooked when it comes to economic growth strategies, they must not be left behind in the digital revolution.

For too long, technological progress has been unevenly distributed. Major cities attract investment, top talent, and cutting-edge infrastructure, while many towns and smaller communities like mine have developed largely despite a dedicated, resourced and nuanced strategy which meets their needs and builds on their strengths.

This digital divide risks deepening social and economic inequalities. If we are serious about creating a fairer and more prosperous Britain, we must take decisive action to ensure that every corner of our country is enabled to thrive by sharing in the rewards of technological progress.

Spreading the Benefits of Tech Innovation

One of our key priorities must be investing in digital infrastructure. Fast, reliable internet is a necessity. Yet too many areas, including parts of Weston-super-Mare and other coastal communities and towns across the UK, still suffer from slow connectivity.

We know this hinders businesses, local services, access to learning and skill adoption, and is a huge barrier to economic growth. Improved access to full-fibre broadband and 5G would go a long way to ensuring that no area is left in the digital slow lane.

But infrastructure alone is not enough. We must also create entrepreneurial and tech-positive cultures in communities like mine, the trickle-down effect whereby tech-adoption will eventually take hold over time is a myth, it’s also an excuse not to deliver in communities because it’s in the ‘too-difficult’ box. With this Government, we can move significantly on this and hold organisations to account as we break down barriers to opportunity for all.

We must also develop the essential skills and bring jobs to areas that have not traditionally been tech hubs, talent exists everywhere and we must encourage businesses to set up in communities like mine. This involves a change in mindset and requires targeted intervention, investment in local research and development clusters, support for start-ups outside the capital and building the infrastructure, but it will unleash untapped potential, I see the talent every day across the town and at a time of a global skills shortage, we do not have the luxury of ignoring the opportunities in our communities.

If we want a genuinely balanced economy, we need to create environments where innovation thrives across the UK, not just in existing hotspots.

Empowering People, Not Alienating Them

When I’m out speaking to residents, I hear their concerns about new technology and  fears they will take away jobs rather than create them. Automation, artificial intelligence, and digitalisation are changing the nature of work, and our challenge is to prepare our workforce for this transition, ensuring that people have the skills to succeed in the new economy.

That means investing in education and lifelong learning. Digital literacy should be a fundamental part of our school curriculum, but we must also provide accessible learning and skills development for adults. Whether through apprenticeships, online courses, or community-based training schemes, we need to give people the tools to adapt and thrive in a changing job market but also simply to access basic services easily.

Places like Weston College in my constituency, where the South West Institute of Technology is based, do a fantastic job - but we need more of this across our communities and tailored to peoples lives if we are to ensure that everyone can benefit.

Strategy for the Future

I was delighted to see the Government publish the long-awaited Digital Inclusion Action Plan earlier this week. The strategy is a great first step, however it cannot succeed in isolation. It cannot be implemented by the government alone.

As part of my role as Chair of the Digital Inclusion All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), I’m working alongside government, industry, the public sector, civil society, and the voluntary sector to deliver the change necessary to bring down barriers to digital inclusion.

I was pleased to see the strategy emphasising the importance of this collaborative partnership, and I will be leading that charge through my role on the APPG, both in my community of Weston and in Westminster.

Technology must be a force for inclusion, not exclusion. No more excuses, it’s now up to us all to deliver.

‍