Digital Strategy for Wales: Mission 6 – Digital Skills

Post by Huw Morris, Director for Skills, Higher Education and Lifelong Learning

Darllenwch y dudalen hon yn Gymraeg

This is the seventh in a series of blogs outlining the ambitions and plans for our Digital Strategy for Wales. Please see the introductory blog ; Mission 1 ; Mission 2 ; Mission 3 ; Mission 4 ; Mission 5.

Mission 6 – Create a workforce that has the digital skills, capability and confidence to excel in the workplace and in everyday life.

This is the last in our series of blogs about the missions in our digital strategy. But it is by no means the least. Digital skills and competency are vital to all aspects of this strategy, developing people’s confidence to use digital in everyday life, to lead digital transformation across our public services and in improving job prospects. This is why improving digital skills underpins the whole of our strategy.

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Digital Strategy for Wales: Mission 5 – Digital Connectivity

Post by Lee Waters MS, Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport

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This is the sixth in a series of blogs outlining the ambitions and plans for our Digital Strategy for Wales. Further information can be found in the other posts in the series: introductory blog ; Mission 1 ; Mission 2 ; Mission 3 ; Mission 4.

Mission 5: Services are supported by fast and reliable infrastructure

Everywhere we turn, digital technology is driving improvements in almost every aspect of our lives.  Of course, without the underlying infrastructure which connects our computers, devices and online services, there can be no digitisation.

The Covid pandemic has highlighted the need for greater connectivity speeds and broadband access, and as we continue to social distance, we are becoming more dependent on digital services for home working, e-learning, attendance at virtual GP appointments, online events and much more.  Since the start of the pandemic, many more people have needed to access public services online and there has been an increased reliance on the internet for information and advice which has driven the transformation of digital services.

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Digital Strategy for Wales: Mission 4 – Digital Inclusion

Post by Julie James, MS, Minister for Housing and Local Government

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This is the fifth in a series of blogs outlining the ambitions and plans for our Digital Strategy for Wales. Further information can be found in the other posts in the series: introductory blog ; Mission 1 ; Mission 2 ; Mission 3.

Mission 4: equip people with the motivation, access, skills and confidence to engage with an increasingly digital world, based on their needs

I am a passionate, driven, advocate for digital inclusion. The pandemic has highlighted our reliance on digital – whether it has been to access health services, maintain contact with loved ones or carry out routine daily activities such as ordering groceries.

However, for those who are not digitally confident, this greater dependence on digital has emphasised the ever widening digital divide. Digital inclusion is no longer a ‘nice to have’. It is essential to be part of a modern society. That is why it underpins all of the missions in our digital strategy.

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Digital Strategy for Wales: Mission 3 – Data and Collaboration

Posted by Glyn Jones, Chief Digital Officer, Welsh Government

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This is the fourth in a series of blogs outlining the ambitions and plans for our Digital Strategy for Wales. Further information can be found in the other posts in the series: introductory blog ; Mission 1 ; Mission 2.

Mission 3 – Data and Collaboration: Services are improved by working together, with data and knowledge being used and shared

When we think about how we can do things better digitally, we often overlook the importance of data. Data underpins everything digital – whether it’s the data we put in, such as the password to access online banking, or the data that comes out, like the weather forecast for the following day.

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Digital Strategy for Wales: Mission 2 – Digital Economy

Post by Lee Waters MS, Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport

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This is the third in a series of blogs outlining the ambitions and plans for our Digital Strategy for Wales. Please see the introductory blog for further background and Mission 1 on digital services for what we have published so far.  

Mission 2 – Drive economic growth, productivity and resilience by embracing and exploiting digital innovation.

As I’ve already said in my first blog, digital is not just about technology – it’s about people. The future of our economy is no different.

As we emerge from the pandemic and exit the EU, digital innovation will continue as a disruptive force in our lives. But this disruption has benefits. It will release people from mundane tasks so they can be more creative and productive. It will support higher skilled jobs of the future. It will open new markets for trade. It will help drive a well-being economy for the people and businesses of Wales.  

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Digital Strategy for Wales: Mission 1 – Digital Services

Post by Glyn Jones, Chief Digital Officer, Welsh Government

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This is the second in a series of blogs outlining the ambitions and plans for our Digital Strategy for Wales. Please see the introductory blog for further background.   

Mission 1 – Digital Services: Deliver and modernise services to a common set of standards so that they are simple, secure and convenient

As the Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport said in his introductory blog earlier this week, digital is more about people and a mind-set than about technology. It is about modernising services within organisations and delivering services across organisational boundaries, based around user needs.

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Digital Strategy for Wales – setting the context

Post by Lee Waters MS, Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport

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It’s not just about computers. Let’s just be clear about that at the start.

The term ‘digital’ covers a lot, but in essence it’s about using technology to make things better – to make firms more productive or to create new products and markets. And to develop services that meet the needs of customers.

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