Research into digital making

The internet now contributes roughly 8 per cent of the UK’s GDP – the highest of the G20 countries. 

But ten million of the UK’s population lack basic digital skills and seven million have never used the internet. Only 30 per cent of small businesses make effective use of the internet for marketing and sales, despite the UK being home to the highest percentage of online shoppers in Europe. Only one of the world’s top 100 websites – the BBC – is British (despite the web being invented by a Brit). And 90 per cent of new jobs require digital know–how. 

The lack of digital skills in the UK needs addressing as soon as possible. The report commissioned by Nesta and produced by BOP reveals just how much is already happening, from the work of coding clubs to activities in the school curriculum to developments in online tools. But the gaps are more striking than the successes, amplifying existing inequalities and hierarchies rather than empowering more people. 

London, for example, has the best provision, but rural areas are being left behind. Many girls are defying stereotypes – but far too many are not engaging, and the gap in confidence between boys and girls is widening. Without radical steps, we won’t change the woeful numbers of women working in the tech sector, which currently stands at 17 per cent.

A huge expansion is needed if we are to grow a nation of digital creators who can manipulate and build the technology that both society and industry are increasingly reliant on. This expansion cannot be left exclusively to professionals, however, as we simply don’t have enough of them. It will require the mobilisation of enthusiasts and interested amateurs, from parents and non–expert teachers, to those working in the tech industry, working and learning alongside young people to help meet this demand. Encouragingly, almost two–thirds of parents and carers say they are interested in participating in digital making.

Recommendations

From our research we derived the following key recommendations:

• The high levels of interest in digital making amongst young people and parents need to be capitalised on further

• Young people need to be supported as digital makers across the UK, not just in London and areas that have high provision

• Non–professionals – such as volunteers, parents, teachers, and young people themselves – need to be mobilised

• There needs to be greater access to a variety of making opportunities catering for a wider variety of young people and their different interests, ages and genders

• Clear pathways to excellence should be built to grow young people’s ambitions as digital makers and help them fulfil their potential, in and out of school

• Schools must exploit their potential as a hub for digital making opportunities, work with informal learning organisations, raise parents’ awareness and recruit volunteers

• Digital making organisations need to be supported to grow sustainably through new and existing partnerships with grassroots organisations and private companies

To learn more about the methodology, findings, and implications download the full report below.