News in View: Disadvantaged being bypassed by information superhighway

The poorest sections of UK society are still to benefit fully from the latest technological developments, and need better access to IT, according to e-envoy Alex Allan.

Allan has admitted that more needs to be done by government and industry if these people are to play a part in the new economy.

He told silicon.com in this week's News in View programme: "The government has done some things, in terms of getting the policies right on the digital divide. But there is an enormous amount that needs to be done in the field when it comes to providing IT access and training and skills to people within the disadvantaged community groups. Otherwise, for most of the disadvantaged groups in the UK, the internet will be not so much a superhighway as a bypass."

Allan was speaking at an event organised by IT training charity, TS2K, during which he helped teach IT skills to inhabitants of the inner London borough of Tower Hamlets.

Bill Mather, CEO of TS2K, said: "It's really important that everyone is able to benefit from the IT revolution. IT is a requirement in every job and IT is a central part of society. We're here to give access to people who would otherwise be excluded from this revolution."

Allan said the government is doing as much as it can in this area, but it is determined to make sure more people have access to the internet and new technology.

Natalie Melton, director of antersite.co.uk - a web development startup which was spun off from TS2K - wants to see companies look further than college graduates for potential IT employees.

Melton said: "I think it's going to take them a long time to realise they don't just have to look at the universities for bright, talented graduates. They have to extend their search and they have to realise there are organisations like TS2K that are making a difference and delivering high quality training. They should see TS2K, and other companies like it, as part of their talent supply chain."

This entire News in View programme can be seen in our Government Channel (http://www.silicon.com/a38867 ).

For more information go to http://www.ts2k.org.uk/about/news/envoyvisit.htm