One in four Scots lack basic digital skills
One in four people in Scotland were unable to use the internet by themselves prior to lockdown, lacking the basic skills required to communicate, shop or bank online, the latest Lloyds Bank Consumer Digital Index (CDI) has revealed.
Technology is now a necessity for keeping connected, working remotely and accessing vital information. Research carried out before the introduction of lockdown restrictions showed three in ten (28%) of those surveyed in Scotland lacked the digital skills needed for everyday life, with 18% unable to connect a device to a Wi-Fi network, and 15% unable to turn on a device and log into accounts or profiles they have.
However, in a separate poll carried out after lockdown measures were introduced, more than a third (35%) of people said they have now taken action to boost their digital skills for work, health and well-being during the crisis.
Philip Grant, Chair of Lloyds Banking Group’s Scottish Executive Committee, said: “During this unprecedented time, it’s encouraging to see so many people taking the time to learn new skills with the help of family and friends.
“Learning to use more online services will not only be hugely useful during lockdown, but also for the future too, both in the home and workplace.
“Across Scotland we have many remote communities and digital skills are essential to keeping businesses operating smoothly and helping people to stay in touch.
“We hope that by helping to each other to improve our digital know-how, whether by informal training, or more structured courses like those on our Lloyds Bank Academy, we’ll all be well placed to benefit from being online in the years to come.”
Even before lockdown, people in Scotland with high levels of digital engagement recognised the benefits of these skills, with eight in ten (81%) saying it helps them stay connected to friends and family, two fifths (43%) say it improved their ability to get a job, and more than a third (37%) reporting it helps manage and improve their physical and mental health.
Up-skilling in lockdown
In the last few weeks of UK lockdown, more than eight in ten (83%) of people surveyed in Scotland believe that the situation has escalated the need to be online and almost nine out of 10 people (85%) have felt that technology has been a vital support during the outbreak.
One in three (35%) across Scotland have taken action and boosted their digital skills, with almost a third (31%) reporting they have up-skilled for work reasons, while two fifths (41%) are using technology more than usual to help with health and wellbeing.
Of those who have improved their skills, over half (59%) are self-taught, nearly a quarter (23%) are calling upon family members for support and one in five (19%) are relying on friends.
Two fifths (40%) of people in Scotland have also helped other people improve their digital skills during this period. Staying in touch with others is the most popular reason to ask for help, with almost two thirds (65%) of people helping their family members to use apps such as Zoom or WhatsApp. This is followed by banking and shopping cited by a fifth (19%) of people.
Encouragingly, more than half (58%) of people in Scotland want to continue to boost their skills beyond the current climate, with a fifth (19%) having used the time at home to do online learning to improve digital skills.
Stephen Noakes, Managing Director, Retail Transformation, Lloyds Bank, said: “The impact of lockdown has brought into sharp focus just how important digital skills are, when all of a sudden it may be the only way for some people to stay connected to loved ones, buy food or get hold of other essential items such as medicine.
“While this unprecedented situation may have a greater impact on those who remain digitally excluded than those who are online, it is encouraging that this has focused people’s attention on digital capability as a vital life skill.
“We and many others have responded to this with extra support, including free training through our Academy, but more needs to be done to close the digital divide.”
Helping to address the digital divide
The latest Consumer Digital Index also shows that without any intervention, by 2030, a quarter of the UK will still have a very low level of digital engagement.
To help people up-skill Lloyds Bank is running online digital skills training via the Lloyds Bank Academy.
Free webinars are held each week providing access to digital experts, training on key skills and opportunities for virtual networking to support individuals, local businesses and charities. Everyone can access free online resources at www.lloydsbankacademy.com.
In addition, through a new partnership with WeAreDigital, a specialist phone line has been introduced to help up to 20,000 customers access the internet and learn new skills to help with everyday digital tasks such as online shopping and connecting virtually with family and friends, as well as online banking.
Over 20,000 of the Group’s Digital Champions are also using online volunteering platforms and telephone services to help the most vulnerable in society during this difficult time.
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