Capgemini digital inclusion initiative celebrates a big milestone

There are around 11 million adults across the UK who lack the digital skills needed for everyday life, such as using the internet. As more services including healthcare, housing, banking, shopping and education shift online, it is critical that we help ensure people can access these.

Capgemini's vision is to help build a digitally inclusive world. As part of this, the company looks to enable Capgemini UK employees to use their technology knowledge to support their local communities. This could be by offering help with how to send an email or make a video call, through to more complex requests such as assisting a charity improve its website.

As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility commitments, Capgemini facilitates its employees to donate time and skills to support social and environmental issues.

Supporting digital needs of local communities

The company celebrated an exciting milestone when the 1,000th Capgemini UK team member signed up to Inspire, a Capgemini initiative that helps employees support digital needs in their local communities.

Capgemini UK Head of Digital Inclusion, Sally Caughey, and Associate Consultant, Iona Chamberlain, describe the initiative and its lasting impact on communities.

Offering a digital inclusion learning journey

To support family, friends and others beyond the business, Capgemini offers UK employees a personal development journey. This journey starts by building confidence and awareness of how to share digital skills, before ultimately enabling employees to proactively reach out to offer support.

It all starts with Capgemini's Inspire programme. Created with social enterprise Digital Unite, Inspire is a series of interactive learning modules that increase awareness of digital exclusion. Employees complete the modules as part of a collaborative workshop, called a Digi Day, where they can discuss learnings.

"Importantly, the workshop gives employees space to identify how they can support someone they know personally. It’s a first step towards becoming more aware of who may value assistance with digital skills, starting with those to whom we’re closest. The session then offers participants insight into ways to also work with our charity partners to teach everyday digital skills," add Sally and Iona.

"We’re delighted to see the 1,000th Capgemini UK employee sign up to take part in Inspire. For us, it’s a sign of our colleagues’ commitment to creating a digital world that is accessible to all. It shows recognition that for still too many people, it’s knowledge of the more basic, everyday technology skills that would positively change lives."

Taking the next step

Capgemini understands that information and awareness of who might need assistance does not equal action to help others.

At the end of an Inspire programme, Capgemini encourages its employees to take the next step in their learning journey by making a pledge to share digital skills with a particular individual or organisation who is part of their everyday lives.

"The idea is that once this first pledge is fulfilled, it becomes ever easier for employees to recognise ways to assist others – as they’ll have confidence in their capacity to help and an understanding of how easily positive impact can be achieved. We look to support our team with the time to fulfil these pledges by offering the option to use two workdays per year for volunteering," explain Sally and Iona.

Hearing from colleagues on the journey

To hear how Inspire supports Capgemini employees to kickstart helping others, Sally and Ion spoke with a colleague who is midway through her learning journey.

"Before taking part in Inspire, I was already aware of how much people can struggle if they don’t have the digital skills they need. During the Covid-19 pandemic, I felt this issue was highlighted as the world shifted increasingly online. It seemed like the right moment for me to start actively supporting the digital inclusion transformation journey we need and so I signed up to Inspire," says Capgemini Solution Architect, Tanuba Ghosh.

"I like the inclusive way that Inspire is able to help everyone at Capgemini, from new starters to experienced senior team members, appreciate how they can help others. At the end of the programme, I pledged to assist a teenager in my family learn how to create a blog showcasing his fanfiction," adds Tanuba. "I’m in the process of completing my pledge, but already my family member is able to discuss how to create blogs with his friends. We aim to launch his blog in November. Afterwards, I hope to help other teenagers start their own blogs, so they too can share their creativity online as well as have greater confidence to consider careers in technology."

"It’s great to understand how Inspire is helping our colleagues at Capgemini share digital skills. We see the Inspire programme as a catalyst, helping more of our team get involved and start their own personal journeys to support a more digitally inclusive world," say Sally and Iona.