Almost 800,000 new digital jobs will be created in the next few years, with half in London and the South East, according to a report. Britain will need almost 3 million digitally skilled workers by 2020 to satisfy the UK’s digital potential, according to fresh research published by O2.
To address the “alarming” north-south divide, communications giant O2 is launching a scheme in St Helens to promote the digital economy.
Over the next three months, firms in the area will be offered a digital makeover, while grants will be given to young people to gain workplace experience.
O2 business director Ben Dowd said:
“It’s promising to see that so many jobs will be required to fulfil the UK’s digital potential.
“But we can’t get complacent.
“These figures highlight that the economy is nowhere near digital maturity and, worryingly, the opportunities that are being created are predominantly in the south.”
St Helens Council leader Barrie Grunewald said:
“This is a tremendously exciting project that will hopefully whet the appetite for greater involvement with technology among our young people, older people, businesses, agencies and other institutions.”
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