It's easy to forget that 9.5 million people – nearly 20%
of the UK population – lack the basic online skills needed to send and receive
email, use a search engine, browse the internet and complete online forms. Having
digital skills is vital if we are to maximise economic growth and job creation.
According to the 2012 Booz & Co report, The
Case For Universal Digitisation, the lack of online skills is costing the
UK economy £63bn in additional annual GDP growth. While online shopping saves
the average consumer £560 a year. The
report also concludes that increased digital skills are of benefit to public
services, leading to improvements in education; connecting older and isolated
people to their communities more effectively; helping adults back into work and
improving health and social services. These benefits make their greatest impact
on the lives of the marginalised in society. And yet the latest figures from
the Office for National Statistics show that 6.4 million people have never been
online. Read more on the Guardian website.
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