Government to teach millions of businesses digital skills by 2020

The Government has today announced its intent to keep British business at the forefront of the “digital revolution”.

It says it will offer digital skills to “millions of individuals, charities, and businesses” by 2020.

It has also announced the development of five international technology hubs in emerging markets to give businesses a head start in international trade.

Karen Bradley, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, said: “The UK’s world-leading digital sectors are a major driver of growth and productivity, and we are determined to protect and strengthen them.

“This digital strategy sets a path to make Britain the best place to start and grow a digital business, trial a new technology, or undertake advanced research as part of the government’s plan to build a modern, dynamic and global trading nation.”

The Government will work alongside global partners, namely Google, Lloyds Banking Group and Barclays, to deliver free digital training to the UK.

Barclays alone said it will teach basic coding to 45,000 children and general digital skills and cyber-awareness to one million people.

Tech City UK chief executive Gerard Grech welcomed the plans, adding that the UK’s tech sector will become a “global force to reckon with”.

“We must ensure that we stay ahead by continuing to provide a supportive environment for British start-ups and digital companies to grow in, especially since other countries are trying to take advantage of our departure from the European Union,” he said.