Digital Leaders, the nationwide programme for promoting effective, long-term digital transformation across government, industry and charities, has announced the finalists who make up the DL100 list for 2020 and opened the public vote. The Lancashire Digital Skills Partnership (LSDP) has been named in this list in the Digital Skills and Inclusion Initiative Category.
Bringing together a range of organisations from the private, public and charity sectors, the LDSP works with delivery partners to identify and develop a wide range of projects which are delivered locally to help develop the digital skills of Lancashire residents, local businesses and to support careers education in schools and colleges. Last year, the LDSP secured significant funding to run projects specifically aimed at helping people underrepresented within the Lancashire digital workforce to gain more sector specific skills and boost their employability. Alongside this, they have been working on a £3 million joint venture with Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport aimed at helping employers in the Greater Manchester and Lancashire areas to address their specialist digital skills needs & diversify their workforce through short, innovative, bespoke training courses.
During 2019 numerous residents, businesses and education providers throughout Lancashire have benefitted from the training offered by the Partnership to improve the digital skills landscape across the county, and has recently enhanced its offer in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Partners of the LDSP are currently working together to support vulnerable adults, young people and families who are digitally excluded.
Ann Jordan, Chair of the Steering Group for the Lancashire Digital Skills Partnership and Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Board Director, commented: “We are very proud of the work of the Lancashire Digital Skills Partnership and all that it has achieved in addressing the skills needs of Lancashire. Recognition in the DL100 is a great achievement and a testament to the hard work of all our partners and Kerry Harrison, who leads the Partnership.”
Russell Haworth, Chair of Digital Leaders, said:
“The Digital Leaders 100 list 2020 once again highlights the progress in digitally transforming the UK. Our community of Digital Leaders have shone a light on the many hidden heroes, quietly getting on with the nation’s digital transformation. It is fabulous to see such a strong list from outside London this year reflecting our own inclusive national programme and the growing importance of digital transformation on companies irrespective of size or sector.”
Steve Fogg, Chair of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership said:
”The recent Covid-19 crisis has highlighted more than ever the need to ensure residents and businesses are equipped with the skills and the means to access services and information online. The work of partners in the LDSP during both the pandemic and over the past year has been crucial in attempting to redress some of the digital skills imbalances and gaps in the county.”
The 100 finalists that make up the list will now compete for the public vote in one of 10 categories. This year’s list is made up of individuals and organisations with 42 private sector, 36 from the public sector, 18 from the non-profit sector and 4 from academia.
