South West pilot highlights role of digital skills in helping people into work
Jobseekers who received Essential Digital Skills and AI-focused training as part of a South West pilot were twice as likely to start work within four months compared with those receiving standard employability support.
The pilot, funded by the Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) through the Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund and led by FutureDotNow, was delivered across the South West by digital inclusion specialist Cosmic, alongside partners Accenture and City & Guilds.
The project explored the impact of embedding digital skills into employability programmes, rather than treating them as a standalone offering, and highlighted the growing importance of digital confidence and capability in helping people move into work.
Julie Hawker MBE, Chief Executive of Cosmic, said: “Seeing participants become twice as likely to enter employment within four months demonstrates the real impact digital and AI skills can have on people’s prospects.
“For many people, applying for jobs, communicating with employers and using workplace technology are now part of everyday working life. When we help people build those skills, we’re not just improving digital confidence, we’re removing barriers to employment.”
As part of the project, Cosmic played a leading role in enhancing the curriculum and delivering all training across the region. The programme was aligned to the UK Government’s Essential Digital Skills framework and updated to reflect the increasing use of AI in the workplace.
Participants also had the opportunity to gain recognised digital badges, evidencing their achievement against Essential Digital Skills for Work, with accreditation supported by City & Guilds and Navigatr.
The pilot demonstrated how Essential Digital Skills and AI-focused training can be effectively embedded within employability programmes. Learning from the delivery is now being translated into a practical toolkit, due for release later this year, which will support employers, local authorities, commissioners and employability providers to replicate and scale this approach across regions. Cosmic has played a key role in shaping the toolkit, helping to translate what worked in practice into a model that can be applied more widely, with Accenture supporting the development of employer engagement approaches within the toolkit.
The findings come at a time when digital exclusion remains a significant barrier to employment, with millions of adults across the UK lacking the essential digital skills needed for work and everyday life. The South West pilot provides clear evidence that embedding digital skills into employability support can have a measurable impact on employment outcomes.
