Arjun Patel, Operational Delivery Manager
When the Covid-19 lockdown came into force in March, as an organisation, We Are Digital didn’t want to sit back and do nothing. We primarily offered face-to-face training prior to this, but we quickly decided to pivot and offer training through purely digital means.
To differentiate ourselves from the companies already existing in the online training space, we decided to use trainers already in our network to deliver the training. This allowed customers access to a tailor-made programme, while using popular tools. That personalised touch was not lost for those in need during this time.
We had to overcome several challenges but thankfully as We Are Digital run the largest trainer network in the UK (with over 100 trainers in place), using trainers was not going to be a problem – we just had to find the right mix of those able to deliver trainer remotely. Our highly flexible internal bookings system was quickly adapted to meet our needs. And lastly, we had to amend our training to make it suitable for delivery online – another challenge we resolved using our network and internal content team.
During the pandemic we have seen a spike in the need for digital inclusion training with many of those needing training locked indoors, self-isolating or simply not wanting to leave their homes. We are seeing certain areas go under local lockdown, which has also spiked a need for our training. Those who are digitally excluded represent a key social issue for a large swathe of the UK’s population.
Since the start of the pandemic, we have helped hundreds of customers to channel a shift from digital exclusion to sustained digital inclusion. We’ve seen a rise in people wanting to set up email addresses to sign up to online services, an increase in video tools such as Meets and Zoom being used to stay in touch with friends and family, online shopping, online banking and even small examples of online dating. With over 24 hours of content available, our training is tailored to the customers’ needs and delivers an exceptional service each time.
The impact of Covid-19 has also brought financial exclusion to the forefront as a social issue. Demand for Universal Credit (UC) has risen substantially, along with the need for further training to support the online application process. We Are Digital has actually built a replica of the UC portal to allow our customers to test and play around with the system, helping them build their confidence before applying for real.
For now, We Are Digital continues to offer remote training until face-to-face training can return. But in reality, for the foreseeable future we believe training will remain digital by default, phone by request and face-to-face by exception. To get support, call us today on 03333 444 019 (Option 1) or email us at di@we-are-digital.co.uk and one of our team will call you back.