The publication of FutureDotNow’s new report, The Ripple Effect, marks a turning point in how we understand digital skills — not as a technical challenge, but as a social value imperative.
For organisations like Cosmic, which have spent almost 30 years delivering digital inclusion, the findings offer powerful validation: digital skills change lives, and now we have the evidence to show precisely how.
The Scale of the Challenge
According to the report, 22.4 million working-age adults — 55% of the workforce — lack some essential digital skills, limiting access to jobs, services, financial opportunities, and wellbeing.
This isn’t just a digital skills gap. It’s a gap in:
- Health and wellbeing
- Financial resilience
- Employment opportunities
- Community connection
- Confidence and independence
Without these skills, individuals face higher costs, more barriers, and fewer choices. And society carries the knock-on effects.
The Ripple Effect: How Digital Skills Create Social Value
The report introduces a powerful concept — the Digital Skills Social Value Ripple. When someone gains essential digital skills, it creates:
1. Improved communication
People stay connected, reduce loneliness, access services, and support family members. Nearly 80% of surveyed participants relied on digital tools to access public services, such as healthcare and schools.
2. Greater choice
Skills open the door to flexible working, career progression, saving money online, and managing life more efficiently.
3. Enhanced contribution
Individuals can better support others — whether caring for elderly parents, protecting children online, or volunteering in their communities.
These three impact areas generate measurable social value across ten categories, from improved financial wellbeing to combatting online harm and increasing community resilience.
The Financial Case Is Just as Compelling
The report quantifies benefits for individuals and society, showing annual gains of up to £12,000 for some groups (beyond their earnings), driven by better health, increased productivity, and cost savings.
Upskilling working-age adults also contributes to:
- Reduced pressure on public services
- Enhanced workplace productivity
- Longer, more sustainable careers
- Lower digital risk for employers
What This Means for Cosmic
Cosmic’s mission has always centred on digital inclusion and supporting people furthest from opportunity. This report highlights exactly why that work is essential.
Through our programmes — from employability support and community inclusion projects to workplace digital skills and leadership programmes — we already see the ripple effect unfolding:
- People gaining confidence
- Families protected from online harm
- Jobseekers securing sustainable employment
- Organisations increasing productivity
- Communities becoming more connected
The evidence now shows the deeper, measurable social value created by this work — and the urgent need to scale it.
Julie Hawker, Cosmic CEO, commented:
It feels like I’ve waited almost 30 years at Cosmic UK to have this level of substance, evidence and support for the social value being delivered through our digital skills programmes. The wider impact on families, communities and our economy is clear, as is the individual value in terms of inclusion, jobs and the ability to connect.
A Call to Action
FutureDotNow’s recommendations are clear:
- Embed digital skills into social value and procurement frameworks
- Mobilise regional partnerships for collective action
- Incentivise employers to invest in workforce digital capability
- Standardise how social value is measured
At Cosmic, we look forward to working with partners across business, local authorities, and the VCSE sector to ensure no one is left behind in a digital-first world.
Because when one person gains essential digital skills, the benefits extend far beyond them — creating a ripple that strengthens society as a whole.