Government digital skills programme: Free training you can use for your business

Running a small business now means running it digitally, whether you planned to or not.

From taking bookings and managing stock to invoicing, payroll, marketing and customer communication, digital tools sit behind almost every part of day-to-day trading.

When those skills are missing – in you or in your team – it costs you time, harms confidence and hampers growth.

A new UK government digital skills campaign launched on 5 January 2026 to help people build the digital skills needed for today's economy.

It's led by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and delivered through the Department for Education's Skills for Life programme, with training routes brought together through the National Careers Service.

For small businesses, this is a practical resource you can use right now, for yourself, your staff and the wider networks you work with.

Two routes you can point people to

The campaign focuses on two clear groups, both highly relevant to small firms:

1. Essential Digital Skills (ages 30–44)

The Essential Digital Skills route supports people who need stronger everyday workplace digital skills. Courses focus on practical capabilities such as:

• handling information confidently

• communicating online with customers and colleagues

• basic digital problem-solving

These are skills used every day across sectors like construction, retail, logistics and healthcare, and they often make the biggest difference to productivity.

2. Digital skills for tech careers (ages 18–25)

The Digital skills for tech careers route supports younger adults moving into specialist digital roles, covering areas such as:

• programming

• software development

• cloud computing

• cyber security

• web development

• data analytics

For small firms, this can be useful when thinking about future hires, apprentices or helping younger staff build progression pathways.

Why this is important to a business like yours

There are clear business benefits to encouraging digital skills development.

• Better employability and retention: People who improve their digital skills are more likely to find and keep work, with each improvement linked to a 0.21% increase in the chance of employment. For small firms, that means more capable, confident staff.

• Low or no cost: Most courses are free for people who live in England, with flexible online and in-person options. That makes it easier to recommend training without the pressure of added costs.

• Higher earning potential: Improving digital skills is linked to an estimated 4% increase in salary. For employers, that supports progression and allows for more productive roles.

The campaign runs until spring 2026 and is designed to make it easy for people to find training that fits around their work and life.

This is a straightforward way for small businesses to support skills development without taking on extra cost or admin, and to help make sure the people they rely on can thrive in an increasingly digital economy.

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