# iAMDigital fund launches to address digital skills crisis

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/10/17/iamdigital-fund-launches-address-digital-skills-crisis/
- Published: 2016-10-17T08:30:36+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Applications are open for a new fund launched to support new and established SMEs
that are working to close the digital skills gap for young people.**

 

[Creative England](http://www.creativeengland.co.uk) and [Nominet Trust](http://www.nominettrust.org.uk)
are behind the £1million [iAMDigital](http://creativeengland.co.uk/story/iamdigital)
fund, which has a deadline of **7 November 2016** for initial expression of interest
and 1st December 2016 for full application.

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The fund will provide investment and support to organisations outside London, and
within England, which are [utilising the creative industries to help improve access to digital engagement](https://blog.whitehat-seo.co.uk/life-science-marketing-an-effective-inbound-marketing-strategy)
and show positive social impact.

 

The aim of iAMDigital is to [help improve the life chances of young people](https://curriculosolutions.com/),
by [increasing their employability](https://www.curriculosolutions.com/work-readiness-career-planning-kick-start),
while also supporting the growth of the creative industries by increasing and diversifying
the talent pool outside London.

 

iAMDigital has been created to specifically address the digital skills gap identified
by the House of Commons Science and Tech Select Committee in June, which found that
the UK will need 745,000 additional workers with digital skills to meet rising demand
from employers by 2017.

 

The fund will invest in scaleable SMEs, with investments ranging from £50,000 to
£200,000 to assist in building their business capacity and ability to win contracts
and secure further investment for growth. It will also measure the social impact
of the ventures and identify learnings to inform future strategies for increasing
digital engagement among marginalised groups.

 

Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Karen Bradley said:

 

> “It’s vital everyone in the UK has the digital skills to succeed in a modern economy,
> create a society that works for all and help keep us competitive in a fast-changing
> world.
> “This fund will help young people outside the capital get the skills they need
> to thrive. And, following our commitment to provide basic digital skills training
> to adults in England who need it, is another boost as we aim to equip the whole
> country with the tools for modern life.”

 

---

 

_Editor’s note_

 

_This article now reflects the extended deadline for applications of **7 November
2016**._

 * **[New Esmée Fairbairn funding announced with focus on young care leavers](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/11/03/new-esmee-fairbairn-funding-announced-focus-young-care-leavers/)**(
   3 November 2016)
 * **[More than 500 organisations sign up for November’s #iwill campaign](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/11/14/500-organisations-sign-novembers-iwill-campaign/)**(
   14 November 2016)
 * **[Mason Trust offers funding to help young people achieve dreams](https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/03/17/mason-trust-offers-funding-help-young-people-achieve-dreams/)**(
   17 March 2017)

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