Digital Skills Council
The Digital Skills Council (DiSC) is an external advisory body within the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT). Its purpose is to provide expert advice, catalyse action, and foster collaboration to address the UK’s evolving digital skills needs and ensure the workforce is equipped for the digital economy.
Role of the group
The DiSC provides strategic leadership and facilitates collaborative action to:
- Ensure the UK workforce is prepared for the future of work, with a focus on emerging technologies.
- Develop thriving regional digital skills ecosystems.
- Create clear pathways for individuals to progress from foundational to advanced digital skills.
Membership
The Digital Skills Council is co-chaired by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Future Digital Economy and Online Safety and Phil Smith, CBE FREng, Chairman of IQE PLC.
The Council membership spans industry, the public sector and academia and benefits from a broad range of background and expertise to help drive forward industry led action.
Council members:
Chair
- (Co-Chair) Baroness Jones of Whitchurch, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Future Digital Economy and Online Safety
- (Co-Chair) Phil Smith CBE FREng, Chairman, IQE PLC
Council members
- Chintan Patel, Chief Technology Officer, Cisco in the UK and Ireland
- Claire Spiller, Co-Founder, The Cloud Crew CIC
- Carolyn Dawson, Chief Executive Officer, Founder Forum Group
- Katie Gallagher, Managing Director, Manchester Digital
- Anna Brailsford MBE, Chief Executive Officer, Code First Girls
- Sheridan Ash MBE, Co-CEO, Tech She Can
- Debbie Forster MBE, Director, Novel Design Ltd
- Tim Smith, VP Corporate Affairs, Multiverse
- Jemma Waters, Head of Customer Inclusion, Lloyds Banking Group
- Stuart Coleman, Director of Learning and Consultancy, ODI
- Deborah O’Neill, Partner and Co-Head of Digital, Europe, Oliver Wyman
- Stephen Coleman OBE, CEO, CodeBase
- Jill McKinney, Director of Service Delivery, Sunderland Software City
- Julia Adamson MBE, Managing Director (Education and Public Benefit), BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT
- Gori Yahaya, CEO, UpSkill Universe
- Stuart Munton, Chief for Group Operations & Technology, AND Digital
- Liz Williams MBE, Chief Executive, FutureDotNow
- Katie O’Donovan, Director of Public Policy, Google UK
- Becky Simms, Chief Executive Officer, Reflect Digital
- Karen Licurse, Managing Director, Digital Boost
Government departments attending
- Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
- Department for Education
- Department for Work and Pensions