Morning, Tuesday, 8th December 2026
Online
This conference will examine next steps for digital inclusion policy in the UK. Areas for discussion include access to digital infrastructure and devices, digital skills and confidence, inclusive design of public and private services, measuring digital inclusion, and practical implications of wider digitalisation for access to essential services.
With the Digital Inclusion Action Plan: One Year On progress report setting out steps taken since the Action Plan launched in 2025, the conference will bring together stakeholders and policymakers to discuss approaches moving forward, alongside ongoing work of the Digital Inclusion Action Committee and the Digital Inclusion and Skills Unit - which now sits within the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport as of July 2026.
Questions around coordination and models for collaborative delivery between government, industry and local delivery partners will be considered, as well as the use of targeted investment and evidence to reduce barriers, and wider approaches to essential services as digitalisation continues - in the context of proposals in the DCMS’ Watch this space: a new strategic direction for UK media green paper published in June 2026, which consults on the future for Digital Terrestrial Television and options for the transition to internet-based delivery.
Taking place as attention turns from initial steps to scale and pace - with many still lacking the devices, accessibility and confidence to use essential digital services - the agenda will examine what this means moving forward for local authorities, regulators, telecoms and technology providers, banks and other essential-service providers, charities and community organisations, and the users most at risk of exclusion.
Delivery, measuring impact, improving skills & service design
The agenda will assess how digital inclusion is defined and measured, how skills and confidence can be improved across different groups, and how inclusion is embedded in the design and delivery of public and private services, including what wider adoption of AI means for the capabilities people need.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- Action Plan: coordination across the Action Committee, DCMS and Government Digital Service - collaboration between industry, policymakers, digital services, infrastructure providers and community
- local delivery: place-based approaches - local authority capacity - learning from devolved and local authority strategies
- funding and evidence: insights emerging from Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund projects and wider investment - evaluation of local interventions
- measuring inclusion: Minimum Digital Living Standard and other metrics - using evidence to target investment - intersectionality and cultural factors in inclusive design
- workforce upskilling: private-sector programmes and the Workforce Digital Skills Charter - tackling fragmentation in provision - public campaigns to boost engagement
- AI and literacy: whether current digital skills approaches reflect capabilities required to engage with AI-enabled services - roles for government, employers and technology providers
- skills and confidence: essential digital skills across different groups - digital skills in the school curriculum following publication of the Curriculum and Assessment Review and the Government’s response - lifelong learning
- support: assisting school leavers and unemployed people - work coaches and Google’s digital skills training
Connectivity, affordability & infrastructure
Further discussion will consider how to improve access to infrastructure, devices and affordable connectivity, and the relationship between digital and physical access to essential services.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- device and data poverty: cost-of-living barriers to getting online - donation and reuse schemes such as the IT Reuse for Good Charter - social tariffs and data voucher schemes
- affordable connectivity: industry commitments and the Telecoms Consumer Charter - social tariff take-up and mid-contract price rises - partnerships and public-investment models
- infrastructure and coverage: Project Gigabit and progress towards 2032 gigabit targets - remaining broadband and mobile gaps - public Wi-Fi and the impact of industry mergers on 5G coverage
- physical and digital access: bank branch closures and the shift to online delivery - balancing digital-by-default with non-digital alternatives - maintaining support for different user groups
- in-person services: implications of changes to face-to-face provision, such as bank branch closures and the wider move towards online service delivery
Digital transitions, responsibilities, media & inclusive markets
Further discussion is expected on the future of digital inclusion as more public, commercial and media services move online, including accessibility, public confidence in digital services, and the role of regulation in supporting inclusive digital markets.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- essential services: accessibility of public and private services - options for new accessibility standards - GOV.UK One Login and biometric identity proofing
- trusted media and DTT: implications of the media green paper - long-term future of DTT and internet-based delivery - protecting reach for the four million-plus homes that rely on Freeview
- public trust: confidence in online services - balancing online transformation with effective offline alternatives - customer engagement with digital channels
- inclusive markets and regulation: navigating consumer protection, accessibility, competition and innovation - expectations for infrastructure, technology and essential-service providers - cross-sector collaboration and interoperability
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those already due to attend include parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons and officials from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Department of Health and Social Care; HM Revenue and Customs; Home Office; Intellectual Property Office; Ofcom; the Welsh Government; and The Scottish Government.
