A new scheme has been launched by Sheffield City Council designed to help local businesses and their employees access digital skills training.

Advancing Digital will provide access to a wide range of learning opportunities, allowing more than 800 people to build capability in areas including data analysis, social media marketing, finance technology and customer relationship management.

Training might be to use better-utilise mobile devices and apps, understand advanced features of MS Word and Excel, realise the full potential of network infrastructure or take advantage of hosted solutions in the cloud.

The £1.2 million programme, part-funded by the European Social Fund, is being delivered across South Yorkshire in conjunction with Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Sheffield Hallam University and RNN Group.

In Sheffield, Advancing Digital is delivered by Opportunity Sheffield, the Council's employment and skills service. Training consultants are available to conduct skills assessments and help users determine the resources they need most and the optimum model for delivery.

With access to an extensive course directory, the programme offers online, offline and hybrid training options at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. Specific learning resources can be commissioned, tailored to the needs of a business, where a gap in the market is identified.

Registrations are now open for Advancing Digital. Opportunity Sheffield is seeking expressions of interest  from:

  • Any business/employer located in South Yorkshire with digital training needs, or an interest in finding out more about the programme
  • Any employed or self-employed resident of South Yorkshire who would like to improve their digital skills

You can register today for the Advancing Digital programme, or get in touch to find out more, by emailing advancingdigital@sheffield.gov.uk.

This latest scheme is another step the Council has taken to help close the digital divide in Sheffield.

As well as providing grants to the voluntary, community and faith sectors to help digitally excluded adults get online, the Council funded more than 3,000 laptops and other devices for local school children during lockdown.

In January 2021, a Digital Inclusion summit, led by Councillor Terry Fox, brought together more than 100 individuals and businesses in the city from various sectors to collectively address the digital divide in Sheffield.

Note to Editors: The Advancing Digital programme is funded by the European Social Fund and is supported by Sheffield City Council.