White Paper: The Impact of Skills Underinvestment on UK SMBs

Traditional reading-and-writing literacy has broadened into digital literacy—the ability to locate, evaluate, create, and communicate information safely and effectively through technology. The article traces this evolution from basic “computer literacy” of the 1990s to today’s multifaceted concept that spans information, media, and AI literacy. Digital skills now underpin social inclusion, workforce readiness, and democratic participation, while gaps in access, competence, and support exacerbate inequality.

The article argues that in a digital-first economy, investing in IT skills training courses is essential for individuals and organisations. It contrasts free learning resources with paid, proctored certifications and notes that certifications often lead to promotions, salary gains, and employer-valued productivity. For businesses, it shows strong ROI - through higher productivity and reduced risk - backed by case studies, and closes with an invitation to explore Future Savvy’s instructor-led Excel, Power BI, and SQL courses.

А Business Continuity Plan (BCP) is a proactively crafted blueprint that keeps essential operations running when crises like natural disasters, cyber-attacks, or power outages strike. It protects revenue, customer trust, legal compliance, and long-term viability—critical since up to 60% of businesses without a plan never recover. Because continuity is an ongoing discipline, leadership buy-in, routine drills, and plan updates are vital for embedding a culture of resilience.