Government body the Inclusive Economy Partnership (IEP) has launched an initiative with Dell Technologies to promote digital inclusion.
They have set up the Digital Inclusion Impact Group, to be co-chaired by a minister of state, Sherry Coutu (pictured), non-executive director at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), and Dayne Turbitt, senior vice president at Dell Technologies.
Member of the group include DCMS, IT industry association techUK, charities including Good Things Foundation, Code First Girls and Laptops for Kids, and companies such as Mastercard, Digital Boost and PwC.
It will co-ordinate a programme of community led activity around improving access, connectivity and digital skills, either by stepping up existing initiatives, scaling up proven solutions or supporting new responses. This will involve identifying projects through insights from government and civil society partners.
It will also use Mastercard’s Inclusive Growth Score tool to help identify communities most at risk of digital exclusion.
Dell has highlighted an early pilot project in which, along with Microsoft, it is helping businesses support children and their families with access to technology they need at school and at home.
Excitement
Coutu commented: "I'm excited about the outcomes we will achieve with this collaboration. The leaders from business, government and civil society who have come together here have pledged their resources, expertise and connections to tackle the digital skills crisis throughout the country.
“We are determined that our joint efforts should drive up productivity, economic growth and co-create the society we all dream of."
The IEP brings together government, civil society and business to tackle social and economic problems in the UK.
Image from GOV.UK, Open Government Licence v3.0
