Following government plans to digitise most of the services being provided by the public sector, Policy Exchange has published a new report recommending the creation of Technology Advocate roles.  Technology Advocates “should be backed by the training and resources required to reach out to people who are digitally excluded and mentor them as they start to access digital public services.”

The report found that of the 5.4 million people aged 65 or older who are offline, two-thirds cited a lack of interest as their main reason for shunning the internet.  The study also found that “the biggest drivers to getting older people online were highly personal, such as the ability to contact dispersed family or see photos of loved ones.”

The report is available for download from Policy Exchange here.