Dorset Digital Skills Partnership

Organisations across Dorset are working together to ensure the workforce has the skills needed for a digital future.

The Dorset Digital Skills Partnership is inspiring schools, companies and organisations to build the digital skills needed to help the economy thrive and establish the county as a leading digital skills community.

It is an active partnership of 20 members that represent a broad sector of Dorset organisations. including:

both Dorset councils
the further and higher education sectors
private businesses

The partners meet regularly and bring with them energy and creative ideas on how to boost digital skills provision for the county’s current and future workforce.

Leading the way…

In 2025, Dorset Council remained a leading member of the Dorset DSP and a member of both the DSP Regional Coordinators Group and FutureDotNow. This networking is helping to consolidate Dorset’s position as a leading digital skills community.

Bringing Somerset and Yeovil College into the DSP and working alongside the Energising Dorset team has further strengthened our partnership.

Dorset Council grew its Future Workforce programme from Coding Day into a broad programme of support for STEM in schools. Its Weymouth Digital Skills Hub piloted the hub approach to supporting a broad range of digital skills, from essential to advanced.

A group of people standing in front of Bournemouth University building.

A person standing by the Dorset Skill pop up stall.

Dorset local skills improvement plan

The Dorset Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) highlights strong regional demand for a wide range of digital skills, including:

digital literacy
cybersecurity
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
data analysis
programming
digital marketing
digital content creation

Employers report a particular need for qualified software developers. This includes, JavaScrip, SQL, C#. Python and C++.

They also report a need for staff who can use AI and automation tools effectively.

Engagement through the Dorset Skills Platform, LSIP research, and events such as the Dorset People Festival reinforces these priorities.

There is increasing uptake of digital courses across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and Dorset.

Initiatives like AI and cyber skills bootcamps are supporting the growing skills demand.

The latest progress report, published in June 2025, documents what has been achieved so far.

Skills & Learning

Skills & Learning Adult Community Education is the joint adult education service for BCP and Dorset Councils.

They offer a range of computing and digital skills courses which have been offered for free throughout 2024/25 funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and through the local Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) skills grants.

According to the 2024 Lloyds Digital Consumer Index, 32% of the population have low or very low digital capability so providing easy access to courses at a range of levels is important.

The courses on offer aim to help people be safer online, improve job prospects and help to make the most of IT.

Skills & Learning have supported 250 Dorset residents to improve their digital skills since September 2024 and have a commitment to removing barriers to access to good quality digital skills training by continuing to offer free digital skills courses below level 2.

Two people sitting on a desk, in front of their laptop

People sitting in groups, using their laptops.

Boscombe digital skills hub

The Digital Skills Hub in Boscombe, delivered by Business Growth Dorset and funded by BCP Council, delivers free courses, events, workshops and masterclasses to both residents and businesses.

More than 8000 people have used the Hub since it opened in Summer 2023 and the project is funded until April 2026.

The Hub won two awards in 2024, ‘Seetec Partner of the Year’ and ‘Visa – Let’s Celebrate Towns’ and was visited by Gail Porter for Get Online Week in October to highlight the issue of digital inclusion.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP)

The Boscombe Digital Skills Hub is the main centre for digital training in BCP. The hub offers accessible support through:

courses
tech buddy sessions
online training
themed seminars, such as AI

The hub mostly serves people living in Boscombe, who make up around 68% to 70% of its users.

Between September 2024 and September 2025, the hub supported:

477 new learners
13,564 referrals
950 enrolments on existing courses

Its model has successfully built trust in a deprived area, helping residents progress from beginner skills to more advanced digital learning, with confidence-building at the heart of its approach. While funding and sustained resource remain ongoing challenges, strong community feedback, bespoke learning pathways and growing local traction show the Hub’s impact.

Future plans include:

embedding digital inclusion into business as usual for BCP Council
strengthening alignment with Dorset initiatives
expanding promotion through partners and word of mouth

These plans aim to support more residents to confidently use digital tools and services.

Cosmic digital leadership course

With 10 years' experience delivering courses in digital leadership, Cosmic were commissioned to train leaders of Dorset’s businesses in digital transformation empowering them with the skills and insights needed to thrive in this digital age.

So far, 23 people have completed either a 5 day or 3 day course with the offer of 1-1 business mentoring.

Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive:

“This course was a reminder that self-doubt can creep in, even for those who feel 'digitally savvy.' It's crucial to stay confident and curious to continue adapting and growing.”

“It has improved my confidence surrounding digital and has made a lot of parts seem accessible that I previously thought were out of my league.”

“My knowledge and confidence has increased dramatically within the digital space. Each week I came away with good tangible takeaways and knowledge to share with my team.”

" Thanks to Cosmic's Digital Leadership programme, we increase our Facebook clicks by 2300% - all through automation. This programme has saved us weeks of work, allowing us to focus on what really matters." Laren Sewell - Digital Content Lead, Jurassic Coast Trust

4 people standing together. 2 people in the middle showing their phone screen.

Digitising Social Care in Dorset

The Digitising Social Care (DiSC) project supports the transformation of care homes and domiciliary agencies by promoting the benefits of upskilling in digital, providing funding opportunities and supporting them to overcome barriers.

In 2024, 15 people undertook a course in Social Care Digital Leadership, which will be further promoted with case studies and, 56 people have used the new digital skills self-assessment tool to understand their current skill level and how they can develop their skills. In-person visits to care homes across Dorset since November are helping staff realise the benefits of digital upskilling.

Dorset Council is also working with Skills for Care and Partners for Care to support staff through digital champion training and establishing a Digital Champion Network.

Weymouth Digital Skills Hub

The Weymouth Digital Skills Hub at Weymouth Library was launched in September 2025, funded by the Shared Prosperity Fund and offers free access to digital learning opportunities. These range from beginner support to more advanced professional skills as well as Digital Employability Skills sessions covering:

CV writing
job searching
interview preparation

Dr Phil Wilkinson, Principal Academic in Communications at the University of Bournemouth, has led a series of Tech Talks on digital topics, including AI and online safety to raise awareness.

For businesses, specialist Business Masterclasses and Accelerator Courses designed for entrepreneurs and small businesses looking to improve digital marketing, productivity and innovation have seen good uptake and have been welcomed by local businesses.

Residents have also had access to:

one to one Digital Champion support
local support services as part of the Community Connect Friday's initiative
additional benefits such as prize draw incentives
free laptop schemes for eligible learners

Embedded Digital Champion Programme

The Embedded Digital Champion (EDC) programme was relaunched in April 2024 funded by the SPF. The scheme aims to digitally upskill Dorset’s workforce and help them to support their customers to access digital services and tools.

Three training paths are offered – an EDC welcome session with Barclays Digital Champion training, an EDC training module for NHS staff and an online programme for internal staff at Dorset Council, with nearly 500 people taking part in 2024!

In total, 1665 people across Dorset have received EDC training. A monthly EDC e-newsletter keeps the community up to date with the latest digital skills information both to develop their own digital skills and to provide information and signposting to Dorset’s residents.

3 people standing around a 'Become an Embedded Digital Champion' carboard cutout

Coastland College

Coastland College has reshaped its digital curriculum in response to employer and community needs, introducing a new Level 1 Workskills qualification combined with Level 1 Digital Skills to support lower-level learners into digital STEM or employment.

The Level 2 programme has been updated to reflect industry expectations in networking, cybersecurity and hardware, and from September the college will adopt the new Digital Support Services T Level, supported by significant investment in upgraded classrooms and a new digital lab. Both staff and students are benefitting from improved facilities and resources, with the Level 1 course proving particularly popular.

Bournemouth and Poole College

Bournemouth and Poole College provides a sustained programme of workforce digital skills development, both internally for staff and externally for people living and working across Dorset.

This work spans education, employer partnership, workforce development and civic engagement, positioning digital capability as essential to the modern economy.

Pathways into employment have been strengthened with employer engagement shaping curriculum intent, assessment practice, progression pathways, and capital investment.

Digital apprenticeships and T levels support workforce entry, progression and reskilling. Outreach activity promotes digital inclusion and aspiration. Digital capability is framed as more than technical proficiency, with equal emphasis on:

communication
collaboration
reflective practice
ethical judgement
lifelong learning

Cyber security focus group

The government reported in 2024 that 50% of businesses and 32% of charities reported having experienced a cyber security breach or attack in the last 12 months and, concerningly, there had been a fall in the proportion of businesses seeing information or guidance.

To help tackle this. the Cyber Security Focus Group identified key organisations offering free support including the Southwest Cyber Resilience Centre (SWCRC). Cyber security tips are now included in the Dorset Council and BCP Council business e-newsletters every month and the SWCRC Dorset membership numbers have improved as a result.

A Cyber Escape Room exercise was run by the Southwest Regional Cyber Crime Unit for local businesses and organisations with practical tips to take away and resulted in some great feedback.

The group also heard from key industry speakers including the CyberSHIP project at the University of Plymouth.

Skills & Learning

Skills & Learning Adult Community Education is the joint adult education service for BCP and Dorset Councils.

The digital course offer spans as a range of essential and functional skills courses from entry level to Level 1 for both unemployed and employed adults, alongside workshops at the Weymouth Digital Hub and tailored digital training for NHS staff.

In the 2025/26 academic year so far, 347 learners (405 enrolments) have engaged in digital skills training, covering:

digital literacy up to Level 2
Excel
device skills
embedded cybersecurity

Engagement has grown compared with 2024/25, partly driven by the new Hub activity.

Ongoing work includes:

promoting basic digital skills opportunities
strengthening signposting and individual learner plans
supporting staff into coding and AI apprenticeships
testing new delivery models

Recent developments include a funded Level 2 personal development qualification that bridges the gap between Level 1 and Level 3 digital pathways.

Future plans aim to:

expand participation
develop lower-level AI skills provision
launch a new coding course for 2026/27

Classroom scene with several people seated at computers while an instructor stands at the front of the room.

Women in tech Dorset

Launched in 2022 by co-founders Seemin Suleri and Sharon Jones, the Women in Tech Dorset (WiTD) community provides a positive and engaging space where women can learn from each other and be inspired.

WiTD hold regular in person and online events with speakers from local to international businesses and organisations with opportunities to network and build local business contacts.

Dorset Coding Day

Record numbers of students took part in Coding Day 2024 delivered in partnership with Dorset Council, Barclays Digital Eagles and BCP Council.

Now in its third year, a whopping 68 schools, 73 teachers and well over 7000 students got involved, with support from 42 local volunteers from 27 local businesses and organisations and 8 students from Weymouth College.

But what next?

Dorset’s first STEM Education Workshop was held in December bringing together, businesses, educators and local authorities, the first step to determining a successful strategy to support STEM teaching and career opportunities for Dorset’s young people.

Aerial view of a business or industrial park with several large buildings, open green spaces, access roads, and surrounding woodland under a bright sky.

Dorset Innovation Park

The Dorset Innovation Park Ltd company took over management of the secure site at around 33% occupancy. It has an ambitious plan for growth. A master development vision and key site improvement works will start in 2026. These will allow a permanent Further and Higher Education presence to drive R&D and create the future skilled technical and digital workforce required.

We expect to exceed our stated key performanace indicator of creating 300 additional jobs on the park by 2031. We also look forward to working in partnership with other regional stakeholders to create the future skilled workforce needed to drive transformational growth in the wider Dorset economy.

Increasing geopolitical tension and proliferation of uncrewed systems are creating key economic growth opportunities to ensure UK defence. This, alongside telecoms and devices, represent target areas for further growth on the park. In future, we will increasingly be focussed on attracting more companies in the clean energy sector.

Tenants already include a company with patented technology for seawater electrolysis (to produce green hydrogen), and marine survey companies looking at data capture for offshore developments including the 2GW fixed wind development planned off Portland.

Rawstron solutions

Andrew Rawstron is Managing Director and Principal Consultant at Rawstron Solutions Ltd and passionate advocate for STEM awareness, education and equality.

Dorset’s growing presence in digital manufacturing and STEM engagement is reflected through participation in major events such as:

the Smart Factories panel at SUBCON 2025
the Digital Manufacturing Summit 2025
the upcoming Dorset AI Symposium 2026
support for the FIRST TECH Robotics Scrimmage at BU

These activities have reached engineering and manufacturing representatives, alongside hundreds of students and academics, helping to promote:

digital transformation
AI familiarisation
STEM career pathways

Enthusiastic feedback, repeat invitations, and continued visibility through LinkedIn and Dorset ambassador activity are strengthening Dorset’s profile, with future plans focused on:

advancing the AI Symposium
connecting local charities
using social media to champion Dorset’s tech opportunities and training

Panel discussion taking place on a conference stage, with four speakers seated in front of a large screen displaying event branding and session details about upskilling for the digital future.

A classroom scene showing a group of students in school uniforms gathered around a teacher at a computer workstation, with coding software displayed on the monitor.

Dorset coding week

Dorset Coding Week 2025 brought together:

more than 5,000 children and 49 schools
home‑educating families
local tech volunteers
Weymouth College students

It was a week of coding activities focused on online safety.

The event was organised by Dorset Council and supported by BCP Council and Barclays Digital Eagles. It challenged pupils in years 5 to 7 to design and code their own online safety quiz. This helped them build programming skills and understand responsible digital behaviour.

Now in its fourth year, the initiative continues to be successful with the hope of inspiring more young people to pursue local STEM careers.

Minecraft: Design your future

Two hundred students from Weymouth, Portland and Chickerell secondary schools and Coastland College used a specially-created Minecraft world to reimagine their communities.

Their visions for the future included:

new transport systems
climate-friendly innovations
vibrant community spaces

The challenge developed participants' digital literacy, creativity, collaboration and problem-solving skills. Their ideas informed the Weymouth 2040 regeneration plans.

The model showed how gamification and digital tools can transform civic participation. Wey Valley will continue to use Minecraft across the curriculum and will speak about the challenge at the next International Minecraft Conference.

Top‑down view of a Minecraft build showing a detailed coastal town layout with roads, buildings, and waterfront areas surrounded by water and green land.

Contact us

You can email digitaldorset@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk for further information if you are a Dorset organisation or business wanting to join the partnership.