It is Get Online Week, and it feels great to share that we will be working with CDL over the next 12 months to supercharge our efforts to help people get online and confident when looking for work.

Too many people are missing out on jobs simply because they don’t have the digital skills employers now expect, from filling in online forms to joining video interviews or using workplace apps. The challenge is huge. FutureDotNow reports that over 20 million adults in the UK don’t have the essential digital skills they need for work, and more than half of working-age adults can’t complete all 20 basic digital tasks. Closing this gap could unlock over £23 billion for the UK economy, but most importantly, it opens doors for real people who want a fair chance at employment.

Our plan with CDL is all about listening, learning, and tailoring support. Over the next year, we’ll run focused programmes to overcome the digital barriers for employment in retail, hospitality, social care, childcare, construction, and admin roles. Each will start with practical sessions on CVs and job searches, then moves into online learning and sector-specific training from food hygiene and safeguarding to essential office and care certificates. We’ll finish each programme by connecting people directly with employers and volunteering opportunities, giving them the confidence and contacts to take the next step.

We know real progress takes time. Long-term funding like this means we can really listen to people, understand where the barriers show up, and build training that fits around their lives, not the other way round. It will let us focus on what works, build trust, and make sure no one’s left behind as work becomes more digital.

This partnership is not only a big step towards that goal but is already supporting our team on many other ways. Yesterday, James and Clara were lucky enough to join their staff teams to learn loads about cyber security and staying safe online. Information that can be shared with our champions and learners.

We can’t wait to see what impact our growing partnership will have on the communities we support. To find out more about this upcoming work please contact claire@startpoint.org.uk