Digital Technology: Grants

(asked on 1st September 2023) - View Source

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to Government grants statistics 2020 to 2021, published on 31 March 2022, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the Local Digital Skills Partnership Catalyst Fund 2021 and 2122 Additional Funding.


Answered by
Paul Scully Portrait
Paul Scully
This question was answered on 12th September 2023

The Department for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport commissioned an evaluation of the Local Digital Skills Partnerships (LDSPs) in September 2021. The evaluation found that more digital skills activity had been delivered over a shorter time period in areas with a DSP when compared to three areas without a DCMS-funded LDSP. The evaluation also concluded that there was clear evidence that the LDSP model is working effectively and is having an impact in improving digital skills capacity.

The regions operating an LDSP are Lancashire, Heart of South West, West Midlands, South East, Cheshire & Warrington, Cornwall & Isles of Scilly, West Yorkshire and Hull and East Yorkshire. The Government continues to work with LDSPs across England to help increase digital skills capabilities across the country.

The full evaluation of the LDSPs can be found using the following link:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1021163/Evaluation_of_LDSP_final_report_270921.pdf

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