Digital Exclusion - Rawfolds Mill Attack

On April 11th a group of people attacked Rawfolds Mill near Huddersfield. The mill, owned by William Cartwright, used new shearing frames that threatened the jobs of textile workers, who were excluded from using the new technology. 

This was in 1812 of course.

It took another 50 years for most textile workers to become included in technology. By the mid-19th century, around the1850s, efforts to train workers began to take shape. Technical schools and apprenticeships started to proliferate, helping more people acquire the necessary skills for industrial jobs as a result wages and jobs grew exponentially.  

When technical inclusion is rolled out, everybody stands to benefit. The same applies to digital inclusion. 

The situation we have at the moment is that too many organisations and businesses are rolling out apps with little or zero money invested in actually developing digital skills in the people they want to use the apps. 

These include high profile business and organisations in healthcare and other public services, banks and food shops. Let's take a moment to think about this. 

For those who are excluded it's a dire situation. People feel isolated, stressed and frustrated. I see it on a daily basis. 

 “As the Minister for Tech and the Digital Economy Paul Scully MP told us, “we talk a lot about making the UK a science and technology superpower by 2030 … but it means nothing if you do not have the customers or the skills base to use the products, never mind produce them in the first place.” May 2023.

Millions still lack the basic digital skills that are essential for work and life. There seems little prioritisation of this issue and the funding available is a drop in the ocean compared to the task in hand. Are we going to wait another 50 years like the textile workers?

The enormity of the task cant be underestimated. However, the rewards for society are great. Stronger sustained economic growth, improved public services, and a more inclusive society— these are  too significant to ignore. Our new government must find ways to bridge the digital divide and make sure nobody’s left behind.