In a world of fast technological change, there’s a risk of a growing digital divide, leaving behind those without the vital skills for the future of work. Through New World. New Skills, PwC firms have committed to upskilling millions of people globally.
Education to employment
As a top graduate employer, and with a number one ranking on the Social Mobility Employer Index, we’ve a strong record on making sure that there are equal opportunities for employment. And we’ve made sure this support continued during the crisis.
When schools closed across the country, we made a number of resources available to all parents and carers who may be looking for materials to help teach their children at home, including our TechWeCan lesson plans, resources in the Employability Toolkit and the Virtual Classroom, which is open to students between Years 10 and 13.
As a partner employer to a new programme launched by Speakers for Schools we supported them with a virtual alternative to work experience. The Social Mobility Business Partnership Insight Week that supports Year 12 students from low income backgrounds in their pursuit of a career, ran virtually this year. We took part by delivering three PwC Insight Days to 117 students from across the UK.
We are committed to upskilling, so everyone has the opportunity to participate in the digital world.
Skills in society
We made our digital fitness app freely available for anyone to use during the pandemic - and it now has 65,000 downloads globally and nearly 3,000 in the UK. And in July, political, business and charity leaders committed to our Leadership Exchange on skills programme, to develop and deliver comprehensive plans to improve skills across multiple businesses and sectors, and in our wider communities.
Internationally, our work with the Girls’ Education Challenge demonstrates that education is key to improving economic and social outcomes in communities. The GEC funds 37 projects in 18 countries - helping up to a million of the world’s poorest girls improve their lives through education.
Still, more must be done if we are to make sure everyone has the opportunity to learn, work and participate in the digital world. This is at the heart of our purpose.
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