UK Digital Strategy
On 1 March 2017, the government published the UK Digital Strategy. This applies the principles outlined in the Building our Industrial Strategy: green paper to the digital economy, and builds on the Government Transformation Strategy, which maps how the government will transform the relationship between the citizen and the state to improve public services.
The Digital Strategy is described as a first statement in an ongoing conversation between digital businesses and government.
The Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport said the government is committed to; “…ensuring the UK is the best place to start and grow a digital business, trial a new technology, or undertake advanced research - and that the UK digital sectors remain world-leading. This requires supportive regulation but also first-class digital infrastructure and an advanced skills base.”
The government suggest that more than four million free digital skills training opportunities will be created as part of the Strategy, including:
- A plan by Lloyds Banking Group to give face-to-face digital skills training to 2.5 million individuals, charities and small and medium businesses by 2020.
- Plans by Barclays to teach basic coding to 45,000 children and assist up to one million people with general digital skills and cyber awareness.
- A pledge by Google, as part of their commitment of five hours of free digital skills for everyone, to help boost digital skills in seaside towns.
The strategy includes seven strands:
- Building world-class digital infrastructure for the UK.
- Giving everyone access to the digital skills they need.
- Making the UK the best place to start and grow a digital business.
- Helping every British business become a digital business.
- Making the UK the safest place in the world to live and work online.
- Maintaining the UK government as a world leader in serving its citizens online.
- Unlocking the power of data in the UK economy and improving public confidence in its use.
However, there have been criticisms that the Strategy does not go far enough, and questions about where the money will come from.
On construction, the Strategy states:
|
'Over the last two decades construction has had the lowest productivity and R&D investment rates of any industrial sector in the UK. Following a government initiative in 2011, construction clients and their industrial supply-chain are starting to adopt a digital approach through the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM); we now lead the world in its implementation. Last year, digital construction made a major contribution to savings of £1.2 billion in government construction programmes. In February 2015, government set out the next phase of digital construction with the launch of Digital Built Britain (DBB). This strategy introduces more sophisticated digital and data tools, incorporating performance measurement of assets and service through the Internet of Things, sensors and telemetry. This is further supported by the coordination of government policy of Smart Cities with DBB to provide asset owners, service providers and the construction sector with an integrated, safe and secure data-infrastructure to ensure the future provision of social infrastructure and services. Ultimately, DBB will create a direct data chain between the design, construction, commissioning and operation of assets to enhance social outcomes and, through data feedback mechanisms, provide a basis for continued improvement in asset design and performance.' |
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- 2016 budget.
- BIM.
- Building our Industrial Strategy: green paper.
- Construction 2025.
- Digital Built Britain.
- Digital Built Britain v BIM.
- Digital Construction Week 2021.
- Digital strategy.
- Government Construction Strategy.
- How to make the digital revolution a success.
- Industrial Strategy: building a Britain fit for the future.
- Interview with Su Butcher, Director, Just Practising Limited.
- Level 3 BIM launched.
- Rural broadband.
- Smart cities.
- Universal service obligations (USO).
Featured articles and news
Future Homes Standard Essentials launched
Future Homes Hub launches new campaign to help the homebuilding sector prepare for the implementation of new building standards.
Building Safety recap February, 2026
Our regular run-down of key building safety related events of the month.
Planning reform: draft NPPF and industry responses.
Last chance to comment on proposed changes to the NPPF.
A Regency palace of colour and sensation. Book review.
Delayed, derailed and devalued
How the UK’s planning crisis is undermining British manufacturing.
How much does it cost to build a house?
A brief run down of key considerations from a London based practice.
The need for a National construction careers campaign
Highlighted by CIOB to cut unemployment, reduce skills gap and deliver on housing and infrastructure ambitions.
AI-Driven automation; reducing time, enhancing compliance
Sustainability; not just compliance but rethinking design, material selection, and the supply chains to support them.
Climate Resilience and Adaptation In the Built Environment
New CIOB Technical Information Sheet by Colin Booth, Professor of Smart and Sustainable Infrastructure.
Turning Enquiries into Profitable Construction Projects
Founder of Develop Coaching and author of Building Your Future; Greg Wilkes shares his insights.
IHBC Signpost: Poetry from concrete
Scotland’s fascinating historic concrete and brutalist architecture with the Engine Shed.
Demonstrating that apprenticeships work for business, people and Scotland’s economy.
Scottish parents prioritise construction and apprenticeships
CIOB data released for Scottish Apprenticeship Week shows construction as top potential career path.
From a Green to a White Paper and the proposal of a General Safety Requirement for construction products.
Creativity, conservation and craft at Barley Studio. Book review.
The challenge as PFI agreements come to an end
How construction deals with inherited assets built under long-term contracts.
Skills plan for engineering and building services
Comprehensive industry report highlights persistent skills challenges across the sector.
Choosing the right design team for a D&B Contract
An architect explains the nature and needs of working within this common procurement route.
Statement from the Interim Chief Construction Advisor
Thouria Istephan; Architect and inquiry panel member outlines ongoing work, priorities and next steps.