{"id":45272,"date":"2026-03-24T08:25:23","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T08:25:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/?p=45272"},"modified":"2026-03-24T08:28:56","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T08:28:56","slug":"government-reveal-progress-of-uk-digital-inclusion-action-plan-after-1-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/index.php\/2026\/03\/government-reveal-progress-of-uk-digital-inclusion-action-plan-after-1-year.html","title":{"rendered":"Government Reveal Progress of UK Digital Inclusion Action Plan After 1 Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

The UK Government has published its first annual progress report on their new Digital Inclusion Action Plan<\/strong><\/a> (DIAP), which was launched in Feb 2025 alongside support from various broadband and mobile providers. The plan contained a series of \u201curgent actions<\/em>\u201d that it hoped would \u201cbegin fixing digital exclusion<\/em>\u201c and the new report appears to be broadly positive.<\/p>\n

The DIAP itself includes various measures, such as funding for local initiatives targeted to the most digitally-excluded groups (e.g. the elderly and low-income households), partnering with the Digital Poverty Alliance<\/strong> (DPA) to provide laptops to digitally excluded people, ensuring online services are simple to use (with offline options too) and extracting various supportive pledges from key technology and telecoms companies etc.<\/p>\n

NOTE:<\/strong> Estimates suggest that 1.6 million people have no internet connection at all, while many more do not have the right device or the skills to use the internet at work and in life. People who are not online are often also disabled, older, or have lower incomes. Yet without access they end up paying more for bills and lack support.<\/div>\n

The first annual progress report<\/strong><\/a> on all this broadly outlines what the government has done so far, particularly in terms of its first 5 actions, leadership actions and industry pledges. Overall, the government claims to have made “strong progress across all areas, with all government commitments either fully delivered or on track<\/em>,” although this is somewhat the equivalent of a student marking their own homework.<\/p>\n

Secretary of State, Liz Kendall said:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“We want everyone in the country to be able to take advantage of opportunities of being online. Whether that is staying connected with family and friends, finding work, accessing government services or getting better prices for everyday goods.<\/p>\n

Our digital inclusion efforts are already changing people\u2019s lives for the better. But we are determined to go even further so we can we build a future that works for all.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

DIAP Progress on Key Areas (1st Year)<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

First 5 actions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
We said<\/th>\nDelivered<\/th>\nWe did<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Launch an ambitious Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund to support local initiatives that increase digital participation<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nWe launched an \u00a311.9 million Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund<\/a>, giving local communities funding to test new ways to close the digital divide and help more people get online with the access, skills and confidence they need. What we learn from this fund will help us understand what works best and guide future support.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Enhance support for the framework that helps people get the essential digital skills they need for work and life<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nFrom 2026, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT<\/abbr>) will take responsibility for the Essential Digital Skills Framework and the national survey. We will update the Framework so it reflects today\u2019s digital world, including new technology like AI<\/abbr>, and helps people stay safe from scams and fraud online. We will engage the public, industry and experts to do this.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pilot a multi-departmental device donation scheme<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nWe have launched a government pilot to refurbish and donate old devices, which has already led to around 200 devices being given to community centres, homelessness charities and individuals, to help more people access the digital world.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Make government digital services more accessible and inclusive<\/td>\nOn track<\/td>\nWe made early changes to the Service Manual, which guides how public sector digital services are built, to make advice on inclusion and accessibility clearer and easier to follow. We also checked more public sector websites and apps to make sure they meet accessibility standards.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Measure what works on digital inclusion, identify where the need is greatest, and establish the economic and social value of upskilling adults with digital skills<\/td>\nOn track<\/td>\nWe strengthened the evidence on what works in digital inclusion through new research and pilots. This includes work on digital skills, trusted or delegated access, and increasing digital participation, including for veterans and disabled people.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Leadership actions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
We said<\/th>\nDelivered<\/th>\nWe did<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Set up a new Digital Inclusion team in DSIT<\/abbr><\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nThe Digital Inclusion and Skills Unit was established in September 2024.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Establish a ministerial group to meet on a quarterly basis<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nThe Ministerial Group for Digital Inclusion sets direction for the UK\u2019s approach \u2013 bringing together those responsible for government priorities, from the NHS<\/abbr> 10-Year Plan<\/a>, to supporting people into work, and the digital ID.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Establish expert digital inclusion committee to scrutinise and steer the Government\u2019s approach to digital inclusion<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nThe Digital Inclusion Action Committee<\/a> and 3 subcommittees were established in June 2025. Bringing together 35 experts, the Committee\u2019s expertise is already shaping government policy and will continue to help scrutinise and challenge our approach to digital inclusion.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bring external expertise into DSIT<\/abbr><\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nAn academic with expertise in inclusive design and digital inclusion has joined the Digital Inclusion and Skills Unit via the DSIT<\/abbr> Expert Exchange Programme.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Industry pledges<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
We said<\/th>\nDelivered<\/th>\nWe did<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Google will develop a new partnership with DSIT<\/abbr> to deliver intensive digital skills training<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nDSIT<\/abbr> and Google are working with local councils in the North East to provide digital and AI<\/abbr> skills training for over 100 care leavers and their advisers. This training helps care leavers look for work, build skills for jobs, and stay safe online.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
IT Reuse for Good Charter<\/a>: Good Things Foundation, VodafoneThree, and Deloitte UK are working with DSIT<\/abbr> to deliver a charter for responsible device donation<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nIn June 2025, we launched the IT Reuse for Good Charter, developed with Good Things Foundation, VodafoneThree, and Deloitte UK, to encourage more organisations across the UK to refurbish and donate their end-of-life devices.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Telecoms industry pledges e.g., to expand affordable connectivity, including through low-cost home internet<\/td>\nOn track<\/td>\nIndustry has connected or supported over 1 million people with cheaper internet, free data, donated devices and locally-delivered digital support.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Admittedly some of these pledges are really just a continuation of what network operators have already been doing for the past few years, although we have our doubts about the Government\u2019s ability to resolve the issue completely. This is because we\u2019ve seen lots of initiatives aimed at improving digital skills over the years, but they often struggle when it gets to the more challenging questions.<\/p>\n

For example, it\u2019s often overlooked that not everybody actually wants to go online and nobody should be forced to use the internet, even if this may leave them at a disadvantage. Similarly, digital skills can change with age, as well as disability (the two are often associated). For example, you might be digitally skilled today, but this can go in reverse when you develop a disability (loss of sight, strokes etc.), which can make life a lot more difficult.<\/p>\n

The reality is that some people will always require offline support in order to achieve what society asks or expects of us, although the Government does seem to recognise this. “We continue to make clear that digital should never be the only option. Public services should provide well-supported offline routes, including phone lines, paper forms and face-to-face support where appropriate. This ensures that people who prefer, or need, access services offline can still do so easily<\/em>,” said the report.<\/p>\n

The full report goes into a lot more detail on all this, but we’ll include an update on the various pledges from mobile and broadband operators below.<\/p>\n

DIAP Industry Pledges from UK Telecoms Providers (Progress)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

CityFibre<\/a> commitment<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

12. CityFibre<\/a> has committed to installing 170 connections to 170 premises in Norfolk, Suffolk, Leicestershire, Kent, East and West Sussex, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire and surrounding areas by 2030. As part of this, these premises – including residential and community hubs – will be given their first 6-month broadband package for free.<\/p>\n

Delivered:<\/p>\n