Digital Skills Research

Employment & Skills were looking to review how Tameside residents are supported to achieve good levels of digital skills that enable them to undertake everyday tasks online or using a mobile device or computer. This consultation was launched to assess digital skills levels in Tameside and to see whether Tameside residents would like to improve their skills. The consultation consisted of an online questionnaire, with paper versions available across a number of public buildings, and focus groups where staff spoke to members of the public who are not as confident in their digital skills.

The consultation received a very positive response, with over 500 responses. 9 out of 10 respondents said they can see the benefit of learning digital skills. Respondents said that increasing confidence, useful for applying for jobs and increasing employment levels were seen as benefits to gaining more digital skills. Other benefits that people commented covered work related uses, confidence, saving money through online browsing and accessing government or NHS services.

Over half of those responded said they were interested in improving their digital skills.

Further comments: helping older people to be involved in digital world, most consistently said that digital skills are good to have and increasingly necessary.

• The responses were used to assist in the ongoing process of creating a list of accessible activities and resources to support the residents of Tameside in acquiring and improving their digital skills.
• Funding was secured for a Digital Inclusion Officer. This position will be focused on increasing the number of residents in the borough who have all of the 5 digital skills, as defined by the UK government.
• The survey responses helped shape the Tameside HACK, organised as part of the Tameside Council’s “Every Child a Coder” pledge. The event takes place at Tameside College as a competition designed to get young people involved in coding and computing and increase their digital skills and future employment prospects. The most recent ‘Hack7’ was attended by over 110 young people. For more details see here or get involved here.