In the light of an astounding revelation that approximately 20% of UK adults lack basic digital skills necessary for day-to-day life, and even more shocking, half of the households in the UK are devoid of internet access, the team at Bionic decided to delve into this digital divide more deeply.
The researchers conducted a study focused on the measure of digital inclusion in individual UK cities, considering various factors such as population and city size. Remarkably, the city of Manchester emerged at the top of this list, boasting a staggering number of 193 digital inclusion services catering to a population of roughly 586,100. Following not too far behind was Coventry with 61 services for its 345,300 residents, and trailing in the third spot was Bangor with 5 services for a comparatively smaller population of 31,765.
Despite the seemingly high number of digital inclusion services, London didn’t find a spot in the top 20. This quandary can be attributed to the fact that it had fewer services in proportion to its extensive populace.
However, it wasn’t all good news as the town of Armagh in Northern Ireland was found at the other extreme of the list. Unfortunate for digital inclusion support, no services were available for its 63,874 residents. Ely and St Davids also plunged into the same category with again, no services, despite a significant population.
Les Roberts, a renowned connectivity expert at Bionic, commented on the study, “Our study highlights the pivotal role of digital inclusion support in building a more connected society”. He further appreciated the top-performing cities stating, “The fact that Manchester, Coventry, and Bangor have all emerged as the top three cities for digital inclusion in the UK is undoubtedly thanks to the hard work of local charities and organisations in their areas, showcasing their commitment to bridging the digital divide,”.
He also stressed the importance of transcending this progress beyond just the cities. To him, the study underscores the necessity for digital inclusivity extended across all corners of the UK.
