“For the UK to lead the way as an economic powerhouse we need to equip young people with the digital capabilities employers are crying out for that will help us continue to invent and innovate.

The combined expertise of industry and academia has the power to unlock a new kind of education experience that combines learning with employability skills and helps academic institutions blend the academic and industry skills required.

By working alongside further and higher education institutes Microsoft can help teaching keep pace with technology changes and ensure students learn the skills they will need from day one in the workplace. Equally importantly, we can make sure today’s students are prepared for the workplace of the future, which will rely ever more heavily on advanced technologies including AI, data and cloud computing.”

"The failure to provide youth with a complete set of skills in a formal manner leads to a new digital divide between digital lifestyle skills and digital workplace skills.

The lack of proficiency in the tools needed for today’s workforce contributes to an increasingly lost generation, who are unable to realise their full potential as learners, employees, entrepreneurs or citizens using digital technologies."

“Our research shows that demand for basic digital skills is already nearly universal, and demand for more advanced digital skills will continue to increase. Helping young people develop the digital skills that employers need will be vital both to driving our economic competitiveness, and to ensuring young people can succeed in the labour market of the future.

Yet while demand has increased, the number of people taking IT courses across GCSE, A Level, further education and apprenticeships has declined in recent years.

We need to see a step-change in ambition on digital skills, with government, employers, providers and local areas working together to deliver the digital skills we will need.”