Enhancing employability: Increasing digital confidence by 142% amongst Kingston Council residents

With an estimated 26% of their residents in poverty and 18.8% in employment earning below the London Living Wage, RB Kingston Upon Thames (RBK) launched a plan to deliver a programme that would address unemployment and upskill their residents. 

Utilising allocation from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, RBK commissioned us to deliver tailored digital skills training to residents across their borough. 

The programme aimed to target economically inactive and unemployed residents with little to no digital confidence. 

Mobilised over a four-week period, we used our community of trainers based in the RBK region. All trainers held enhanced DBS checks, and delivered all training sessions in-person.

Referral routes included using RBK directly, the Department for Work and Pensions, and local third-sector partners, allowing participants to choose their preferred community venue for the sessions. This ensured sessions were accessible and comfortable.

Each participant underwent three training sessions, which focused on:

• Key digital skills - using email, online job search, and creating a CV

• Employability digital skills – Microsoft suite, video conferencing

• Social media

These improved participants’ ability to apply for jobs and interact with key software and platforms.