Mayor unveils plan to make West Yorkshire a digital giant with focus on skills

28 November 2022

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, has today launched a major new plan to improve digital skills and help grow the region’s digital sector.

The Mayor’s first Digital Skills Plan will ensure that everyone across West Yorkshire can develop the digital skills they need to get the career or life skills they want, with the goal of creating an inclusive society and thriving economy.

With the pandemic turbo-charging the shift to digital and online services, it is vital that people and communities have the skills necessary for the modern world.

Supported by officials from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the Mayor’s Digital Skills Plan is for everyone - from those who have never turned on a laptop, to those who want to learn how to use social media, to those who are expert coders.

The plan will also promote digital careers, linking education and business, so young people in West Yorkshire are ready for the ‘jobs of the future’. It will also inspire businesses and charities to invest in digital skills to transform their workforce.

West Yorkshire has the fastest growing digital sector outside London and is the UK's number one location for tech scale-ups. The new plan sets out what is needed to support and boost the region’s already thriving sector.

This includes:

• Building the capacity of community organisations to deliver digital skills and access to those who are digitally excluded
• Rolling out a programme to help raise school-aged children's digital literacy
• Offering digital support for businesses through the West Yorkshire Combined Authority's business growth service and Digital Enterprise programme
• Launching a region-wide digital skills campaign to inspire excitement in digital careers and increase uptake of digital skills provision

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “Equipping people with the digital skills they need to succeed is a key priority because everybody should have the same chances to get on and live a happy life.

“West Yorkshire’s digital sector is already punching above its weight and we will continue to build on this by supporting businesses to grow and to innovate.

“You can’t level up communities like ours without digital skills, and our plan sets the path for the future.”

Mark Roberts, Chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership, said: “West Yorkshire has the fastest growing digital sector outside of London and is the UK’s number one location for tech scale-ups.

“Investment in digital skills will further boost our region’s economy, accelerate business growth and create jobs and opportunities for everyone in our region.”

Earlier today (Monday 28 November 2022), the plan was launched as officials from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) visited West Yorkshire, where business leaders have made the case that investment in digital skills was crucial to levelling up.

Councillor James Lewis Chair of the Employment and Skills Committee, said: “Our long-term prosperity depends on having people with the right skills to get back into work and be ready for new opportunities.

"West Yorkshire has the fastest growing digital sector, outstripping the national pace of growth, which makes the development of digital skills a key focus to support these jobs and businesses.”

Paul Scully, Minister for Tech and the Digital Economy, said: "Tech is thriving in West Yorkshire and we want to make sure everyone can enjoy the benefits of a strong digital sector. Our Local Digital Skills Partnerships are helping people across the region access the training and support they need to join in Yorkshire's tech revolution, whether that's getting online or growing their business."

Mandy Ridyard, Finance Director of Produmax and Chair of Space Hub Yorkshire, said: “Investing in digital skills for current and future talent is crucial to business success. Digital skills are a catalyst for businesses growth. They help increase productivity, create new ways of working and ensure businesses are future fit.”

The Digital Skills Plan was developed with the Local Digital Skills Partnership, which is a network formed of digital advocates across the region, from the public, private, and third sectors, supported by DCMS. The plan has been further developed and refined in consultation with education providers, businesses, charities, and partners from across the region.