New free online learning platform launched to boost workplace skills

A new online learning platform has been launched by the government in an effort to help boost the nation’s skills while the lockdown measures continue. 

The platform, hosted on the gov.uk website, offers free, high-quality digital and numeracy courses to help build up their skills, progress in work and boost job prospects.

"I know how difficult the recent months have been and the huge changes the coronavirus has brought on the daily lives of us all," said Education Secretary Gavin Williamson on occasion of the platform's launch. 

"I want businesses to encourage their furloughed employees to use The Skills Toolkit to improve their knowledge, build their confidence and support their mental health so they have skills they need to succeed after the coronavirus outbreak."

Courses on offer cover a range of levels, from everyday maths and tools for using email and social media more effectively at work to more advanced training.

Individuals will be able to access courses helping them to create great online content developed by the University of Leeds and the Institute of Coding, to understand the fundamentals of digital marketing from Google Digital Garage and to learn how to code for data analysis from the Open University. 

According to the government, the courses have been selected on the advice of experts and leading employers to make sure they meet the needs of business, not just for today but in the future. 

Business leaders have welcomed the initiative, recognising its importance in the UK's recovery effort. 

"TechUK is pleased to see government taking an active role in signposting and motivating the public to take advantage of the digital skills training industry offers, techUK has long advocated for a move in this direction. Digital skills will be crucial to the future of the UK economy and our recovery from the COVID crisis," said Julian David, CEO of techUK.

Helen Milner, chief executive of Good Things Foundation, said, "It’s at times like this that people start to think about the skills they might want for the future.

"With 11.9 million people in the UK still without the essential digital skills for life and work, from adding an email attachment to two-step security verification, we’re delighted to be helping the nation learn and gain confidence through our free Learn My Way online courses and Make It Click directory."

The government noted that this is just a first step towards assisting with the longer-term recovery to boost employability across the country, helping people to build up the skills employers need during time spent at home.