Businesses and young people in areas of Britain are falling into the ‘digital postcode lottery’ trap as GAIN LINE finds certain regions in the UK are missing out on apprenticeship opportunities for digital roles. Analysis of Apprenticeships.org’s digital apprenticeship vacancies over the last revealed that more than 40 per cent of the vacancies were located in London and the South East.
As businesses across the country strive to move towards digital operations due to the lure of lower costs and higher efficiency, many rely on the fresh outlook and new technical skills that come from hiring apprenticeships.
With some regions receiving exceptionally low numbers of digital apprenticeship vacancies, such as the North East which received just four% of new starters in 2021, and East Midlands which received six%, SMEs in these areas will miss out on the benefits of bringing younger generations into the workforce.
GAIN LINE, a business that helps SME organisations grow by digitally optimising their operations for improved efficiency, better accuracy and lower operational costs, conducted the research to better understand the barriers SMEs face in terms of digitisation and highlight opportunities for growth.
Jonathan Ward of GAIN LINE, said: “Developing digital skills in young people is crucial for their future careers,” says Jonathan, “but as well as being necessary for personal progression, bringing in younger generations helps to keep businesses fresh with new outlooks, and new technical skills.”
As well as looking at how SMEs in these areas are missing out on up and coming talent from apprenticeships, GAIN LINE also looked at Innovate UK’s Smart Grants distribution, which offers successful applicants a share of up to £25 million for digital innovation projects that can benefit the UK economy.
This data revealed the same digital divide that was found with apprenticeship opportunities. Of those grants awarded over the last year, more than a third were awarded to organisations in London and a sixth of grants to the South East.
Comparatively, just two% were awarded to businesses in the North East and six% to East Midland firms.
“The distribution of the sources in our research paints an accurate picture of the digital divide we currently have in Britain,” says Jonathan, “while the South and larger cities are thriving in terms of technology and innovation, business owners in the North East, East Midlands and more rural locations are missing out. We need better messaging about digital opportunities targeting those areas, as well as funding initiatives.
“Rural commercial properties are much more affordable than their city-centre equivalents, which could be attractive to small business owners looking to keep overheads down. However, lack of apprenticeships, lower opportunities for digital grants, and slower internet speeds make it difficult for businesses to thrive.
“It’s a missed opportunity for both the smaller businesses and the local economies, which could greatly benefit from attracting more small businesses to the area.”
