Partnership delivers digital skills training to over 1,000 people from ethnically diverse communities in Bradford

A partnership to help improve digital and employability skills in Bradford district has celebrated one thousand people completing its programme.

The Yorkshire Building Society Digital Skills for Employability in Bradford project is a partnership between the mutual and Good Things Foundation which was established in 2021. The programme aims to provide digital skills training, support with job searching and access to digital inclusion resources, such as free mobile data, to people from Black, Asian, and ethnically diverse communities in Bradford to help with employability prospects.

It is estimated that 15% of people in the Yorkshire and the Humber region do not have all of the essential digital skills needed for work [1], and employment rates in the region are lower than average for people from Black, Asian and ethnically diverse backgrounds [2]. Yorkshire also has a higher-than-average number of people who are offline (5%) or have a very low digital capability (26%)¹.

The Yorkshire Building Society Digital Skills for Employability in Bradford project is supported by local community partners who deliver digital skills training to socially excluded minority groups in the Bradford area.

Of those who completed programme feedback in 2023, 100% said they felt more confident using the internet, feeling more able to stay safe online, and felt their digital skills have improved and more than nine in ten (97%) said they now know how to find and apply for jobs online. Almost eight in ten (77%) said they had applied for a job since receiving support and almost all said they felt more confident (99.7%) and independent (97%).

Pauline Giroux, senior manager for social purpose and sustainability at Yorkshire Building Society, said: “We are delighted that our partnership with Good Things Foundation has delivered digital skills training to over 1,000 people from Black, Asian and ethnically diverse communities in Bradford to not only help with employability prospects, but also improve confidence and independence. This programme is part of Yorkshire Building Society’s commitment to supporting people in Bradford enhance their employability skills.”

Andrew Rice, Project Delivery Manager at Good Things Foundation said: “Going into its fourth year, the Yorkshire Building Society Digital Skills for Employability in Bradford project has been a huge success. To date the programme has helped over 1,000 people obtain critical digital skills to improve their employment situation.

“This has been achievable thanks to the ongoing partnership between Yorkshire Building Society, Good Things Foundation and the fantastic Digital Inclusion Hubs who have been delivering extraordinary results for the people they support.

“I am overjoyed by the successes we have seen so far, and with year four delivery underway, I look forward to seeing even more people become digitally included in 2024. The project’s impact and longevity really demonstrate what can be achieved with drive and focus and incredible dedicated teams working to improve people’s lives in their local communities.”

The Yorkshire Building Society Digital Skills for Employability in Bradford project will continue throughout 2024 and aims to support 450 people to improve their digital skills.

Good Things Foundation’s latest campaign, Digital For All, is raising awareness of digital exclusion. Digital exclusion can be due to affordability, a lack of device or low digital skills. Someone may experience one or all of these barriers to getting online

For more information about Good Things Foundation, visit www.goodthingsfoundation.org.