A new initiative aimed at enhancing digital and data skills within local authorities has officially launched, promising to transform the capabilities of public sector teams across the UK. The ADEPT Digital Academy, which is fully funded by the Apprenticeship Levy, merges practical training with expert coaching to equip place directors’ teams with the necessary competencies to navigate contemporary challenges in local governance.
The Academy is the brainchild of the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning & Transport (ADEPT) in collaboration with Colas and will be delivered by Multiverse, a renowned provider in the field of applied AI and digital training. Notably, the programme aligns with the UK government’s digital transformation strategy, which seeks to ensure that 10% of civil servants are employed in digital roles by 2030, a goal detailed in the recent Spending Review.
While the ADEPT Digital Academy is a significant step forward, it is part of a broader trend within local government towards increasing digital literacy. Other localities, like Warwickshire, have also leveraged the Apprenticeship Levy to bolster apprenticeship programmes aimed specifically at media and digital sectors, receiving notable financial support from the BBC to enhance training opportunities. Such initiatives underscore the shifting landscape in which local authorities are required not only to adapt but to lead in digital innovation.
Angela Jones, President of ADEPT, articulated the importance of this new programme, stating, “ADEPT has developed this unique programme to equip place directors’ teams with the capabilities to lead change, use data effectively, and ultimately deliver improved outcomes for communities.” This sentiment has been echoed by Claire Davenport, Chief Operating Officer at Multiverse, who remarked on the potential for public sector workers to embrace digital technologies to enhance service delivery and efficiency.
Furthermore, initiatives such as the one launched by Norfolk County Council illustrate how local entities are increasingly utilising unspent Apprenticeship Levy funds to assist nearby SMEs in hiring new apprentices. By encouraging larger firms to transfer their unutilised levy resources, the intention is to stimulate local economic growth and address skill shortages.
Indeed, the Local Government Association (LGA) has highlighted the essential role of councils in fostering a strong digital skills pipeline through apprenticeships. Councils have the capacity to transfer a portion of their own apprenticeship funds to local businesses, thereby, creating additional opportunities for skill development and addressing specific local needs.
In an era defined by rapid technological advancement, the ADEPT Digital Academy aims not only to bridge gaps in current workforce skills but also to future-proof local authorities against the challenges posed by an evolving digital landscape. As Angela Jones suggested, local authorities should actively consider how this fully funded initiative can enhance their capacity to serve communities better in an increasingly digital world.
As the pilot phase of the ADEPT Digital Academy approaches launch in the autumn, expressions of interest from local authorities are now being encouraged, paving the way for innovative training sessions that could reshape the public sector workforce in the UK.
📌 Reference Map:
- Paragraph 1 – [1]
- Paragraph 2 – [1], [2]
- Paragraph 3 – [3], [4]
- Paragraph 4 – [4], [5]
- Paragraph 5 – [6], [7]
Source: Noah Wire Services