Resources to stay connected and improve digital skills amid COVID-19

30 Mar 2020 02:52 PM

We can tackle skills gaps and digital divisions in our communities by sharing resources.

COVID-19 is forcing us to change the way we work, with many people having to work remotely and home school using digital technologies. The need for essential digital skills has never been more apparent as we get to grips with our new ‘normal’.

In 2019, Lloyds’ annual UK Consumer Digital Index found that in the UK alone, 17.3 million people in employment do not have the Essential Digital Skills required for today’s workplace. 

We want to help equip people with the digital tools they need to stay connected and informed. To do this, techUK has signposted some free training resources.

In times of social distancing, it’s even more important that we encourage people to upskill and retrain so that people are not digital excluded and can participate online safely.

BT Skills for Tomorrow

Skills for Tomorrow is a major new programme designed to empower 10 million people by giving them the skills they need to flourish for the digital future. Anyone can choose from a range of free online or face-to-face courses, designed to help you feel more confident and comfortable in the online world. 

Institute of Coding

The Institute of Coding is working to encourage a larger, more diverse group of learners onto digital skills courses, and offers 200+ on its course catalogue.

Microsoft Digital Literacy

Microsoft Digital Literacy is for anyone with basic reading skills who wants to learn the fundamentals of using digital technologies. This course can help individuals gain the digital skills necessary to engage in a digital economy and improve livelihoods. This course is used worldwide by individuals, non-profits, schools and government.

Google Digital Training

Get essential digital skills training with Google’s free video lessons. Explore the trusted curriculum to find the computer skills you want to learn, from data analysis to research and communication.

Learn My Way

Learn My Way is a website of free online courses, built by Good Things Foundation to help people develop their digital skills. From improving your health, finding a job and managing money online Learn My Way helps people improve their lives through digital.

FutureLearn

Founded by The Open University in 2012, FutureLearn is a leading social learning platform, enabling online learning through conversation. With over 7 million people from over 200 countries across the globe—a community that is continuously growing—it offers free and paid for online courses from world-leading UK and international universities, as well as organisations such as the European Space Agency, the British Council and Cancer Research UK.

We are eager to grow and update this list of resources, if you have any you would like to see highlighted, please do get in touch!

Read Helen Miner OBE, Good Things Foundation, on how to help people get confident with digital.