Keynote lecture
Baroness Dido Harding inspires us all to drive digital growth Baroness Dido Harding, CEO at TalkTalk Group plc
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‘It needs strong, brave leadership to drive the move towards digital skills, and that goes for government every bit as much as NGOs and businesses.’ Dido recognised the work done by Mike Bracken, Head of the Government Digital Service (GDS), in delivering public services online, but expressed concern that these innovations are still inaccessible to those excluded or underprivileged members of the community who are still without an online facility.
‘We need to trust our youth, and inspire and support them.
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t a recent event hosted by RBS in London, the Deputy Dean of Henley Business School, Professor Ginny Gibson introduced Baroness Dido Harding, CEO at TalkTalk Group plc, who has recently been appointed as a non-executive director on The Court of The Bank of England, as well as being offered a peerage.
Dido began by giving some background to the UK’s notable digital achievements to date. But despite Britain having an enviable record of success as a leader in the digital economy – with high levels of broadband penetration and, in proportion to GDP, one of the largest internet economies – there are a number of threats on the horizon, and these must be addressed if the country is to maintain its competitive advantage.
The challenge facing small businesses is an especially worrying one, with the emerging markets catching up fast and threatening to overtake the UK in the near future. Dido advocated the use of both carrot and stick to implement a number of measures, including: • leadership from the top • a real focus from government • moving public services online • c ommunity support for the hardest to reach – with proper investment • s etting different targets and expectations that nudge behaviour change
‘Employers have a responsibility to ensure that all their staff are digitally savvy, and by making it happen, we will ensure that even SMEs can succeed internationally, and help balance the books, supporting Britain to be great, to be global, to drive growth. That’s why it’s important.’ Is physical engagement still key? Is access to the internet a universal right? Do politicians set a good example? Should you employ a 19-year-old tomorrow? To see Dido’s answers to these questions and many more, click to see the full report of the event, including the Q&A session and the subsequent audience reaction.
• employer support for those in work who lack digital skills • strong competition to drive uptake • innovative new services, such as YouView
Focus@Henley
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