‘Sky Up’ programme sets ambitious goal to help up-skill those who are digitally isolated with technology, connectivity, and training

100 new Digital Hubs targeted at economically deprived areas

Tech Grants for young people will include new tech devices and reliable internet connectivity to support learning

Expansion of Sky Up Academy Studios to develop young people’s digital storytelling skills
Sky is today setting an ambitious new goal to tackle digital inequality and provide support to a quarter of a million digitally excluded people through a new £10m fund.

The new programme – Sky Up – will support people to succeed in a digital age, ensuring that those who are most at risk of being digitally excluded are given access to the right skills, technology, and connectivity. The programme will see £10m invested to level up communities in the markets that Sky operates in and ensure no-one is left behind in the digital world.

Sky Up will be targeted directly at supporting the two groups who are most at risk of digital exclusion in our society, ensuring they are not held back by a lack of digital equity.

Under 25’s in low-income areas - research conducted by Ofcom during the pandemic, shows that one in five school children do not have consistent access to a suitable device for their online schoolwork. Sky Up will directly support young people under the age of 25 from lower income areas through digital training, reliable internet connections, and the right equipment to allow them to learn and succeed.

Over 65’s - the majority of people who are digital excluded are aged 65 and over, according to Age UK, and the greatest causes of digital exclusion amongst older people are lack of skills, a lack of trust, and not having a reliable internet connection. Working directly with local Age UK centres, Sky Up will be targeted at those over the age of 65 who lack the skills and confidence to get online safely, offering them advice and training to make the most of services and opportunities available online.