The Workforce Digital Skills Charter – promoted by FutureDotNow – is a collaborative call to action designed to ensure that equipping the UK workforce with essential digital skills is recognised as a national priority.

Its goals include raising awareness of current workforce digital skill levels - and skills gaps - inspiring organisations to take action and urging policymakers to prioritise the issue.

Signing the Workforce Digital Skills Charter and joining forces with other like-minded organisations to help support the upskilling of the UK workforce aligns with Wildanet’s mission to help people of all ages benefit from the opportunities of high-speed broadband and support economic growth.

Helen Wylde-Archibald, CEO of Wildanet, said: “Providing gigabit-capable broadband is just one step toward unlocking the full potential of our own region and the wider UK economy.

“The opportunities created by fast, reliable internet can only be truly realised if individuals and businesses have the confidence and skills to use it effectively.

“By signing the Workforce Digital Skills Charter, Wildanet is proud to be joining with other forward-thinking businesses and to be playing its part in creating a digitally confident, future-ready workforce.”

According to FutureDotNow, 21.7 million working-age adults can’t complete all the digital tasks essential for today’s workplace and more than half the UK labour force is missing digital basics around safety, productivity and more.

It is an issue which affects every region and industry sector in the UK and as the workplace continues to evolve at pace, driven by advancements in technology and digital services, bridging this gap is critical for businesses and individuals alike.

By signing the Workforce Digital Skills Charter, Wildanet commits to:

• Raising awareness of the essential digital skills gap across the workforce.
• Collaborating with other organisations to drive a national change programme.
• Empowering workers to build solid digital foundations, ensuring they are prepared for present and future challenges.

Wildanet is already a key player in Cornwall and Devon’s digital revolution, rolling out Full Fibre broadband to thousands of homes and businesses across the region. The company is also a champion of digital inclusivity, with a mission to ensure the economic and social opportunities offered by gigabit-capable broadband are accessible to all.

And in 2023 it launched its own centre of excellence in Cornwall – the Wildanet Technical Training Academy – providing industry-leading training for the next generation of telecommunication engineers.