The pandemic has made clear and accelerated the digital revolution that has been taking place across the workforce.

I am so glad to be working with Nash Squared as their first Parliamentary Tech Champion.

Nash Squared recently presented me with their ‘Tech Champion Award’ and invited me to their London offices where we discussed the future of the UK’s technology industry, the digital skills gap, and the importance of diversity in the tech sector.

Digital revolution

The pandemic has made clear and accelerated the digital revolution that has been taking place across the workforce.

Digital technology is now a key part of working life in almost all sectors, and so too are digital skills. However, digital skills are not freely and equally available to all, and the pandemic has also exposed a growing digital divide.

Across the country, many young people do not have the skills or equipment that they need to participate in the workforce.

This does a disservice to these young people and contributes to a digital skills gap which limits the growth of the UK’s emerging tech sector.

Digital Skills

As the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Digital Skills, last year I led the delivery of a report on digital skills in the context of the pandemic.

The report features 15 key recommendations and argues that, for the UK to rebuild its economy, the Government must act now, and invest in digital.  

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