A heatmap showing levels of digital exclusion in each local authority area has been unveiled by Doteveryone.
The map uses eight key metrics to determine the risk of digital exclusion including the availability of digital infrastructure, the number of people who have never been online, the number of people who have basic digital skills and if they have used these skills in the past three months.
The heatmap also analyses age, income, health and education as these can influence levels of digital exclusion.
Speaking at the LGA annual conference, Rachel Neaman, director of Campus, said: ‘By understanding specific risk factors driving digital exclusion, local government really can play its part in solving the digital skills crisis.’
Ms Neaman warned that five million people in the UK have never used the internet, with 12.6 million people lacking basic digital skills.
‘Going digital by default is not enough - services need to be designed for the user not the convenience of the council,’ she added.
