Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to tackle skills and labour shortages in digital technology industries.

DCMS works with departments across government and with industry to grow the digital workforce, tackle the digital skills gap, and support a diverse range of people into digital roles. Actions taken include the launch of the Digital Skills Council, the introduction of AI and Data Science Conversion Courses, and working with the Home Office on visa routes related to the digital workforce.

DCMS launched the Digital Skills Council (DiSC) in June 2022. The council has brought together industry leaders and training experts from organisations such as Amazon Web Services and Multiverse. The council works directly with employers and is encouraging investment in employer-led initiatives focused on upskilling the UK workforce, including initiatives related to increasing the number of digital apprenticeships.

Continuing to develop, attract, and train people to work with Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the core of our plan for maintaining the UK’s position in this field. In February 2022, DCMS announced the creation of up to 2,000 additional scholarships for students studying AI and Data Science conversion course masters, helping people from underrepresented groups to join the UK’s world-leading AI industry. Along with these conversion courses, DCMS has supported the introduction of Alan Turing Institute AI research fellowships and 16 dedicated Centres at universities across the country to train 1000 extra AI PhDs.

An important part of developing skills is providing inspiration to young people, which is why DCMS launched the Cyber Explorers youth-inspiration programme, which has engaged over 30,000 young people from more than 2,000 schools. To grow the cyber workforce, DCMS has also introduced the 'Upskill in Cyber' training programme and the CyberFirst interventions, which include bursary offers for undergraduate students. DCMS are currently working with the Behavioural Insights Team to understand how we can improve the perception and understanding of digital subjects, including computer science, AI, and cyber.

DCMS recognises the importance of improving the diversity of the digital workforce and has supported the Tech Talent Charter since 2016. The Tech Talent Charter is helping to improve the diversity of the digital workforce by improving reporting on diversity statistics and fostering collaboration to create a more diverse tech workforce.