COUNCIL DIGITAL EAGLES SET TO FLY

Thirty employees are acting as trail blazers – with officers from street sweepers to trading standards are in the first wave of new official ‘Digital Eagles’.

Salford City Council and Barclays, which launched its Digital Eagles programme in 2013, have created the first local authority-private sector partnership of this type.

This is just the start as Salford City Council’s ambition is to develop its whole workforce as digital eagles – creating a social movement for a digital inclusive city.

The new Salford Digital Eagles will be a crucial part of the council’s drive for digital inclusion – making sure people have the skills to use the internet to do things that benefit them in their day to day lives.

The aim is that council employees, as well as helping colleagues, will also be able to help family, friends and residents to  improve their digital skills to find information, avoid social isolation by networking through social media and maximise the financial and other opportunities that being digitally confident brings.

City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “I am proud to launch this innovative partnership with Barclays who have been pioneers in the development of digital skills in communities.

“Our first Salford Digital Eagles are being announced and I am so proud of their passion to help colleagues and local people to develop skills that will help them take advantage of all the opportunities that being digital brings.

“We have recognised that tackling digital exclusion requires time, effort and investment.  The benefits are huge and we want to ensure that no one is left behind. Our approach harnesses the strengths of our workforce and our community spirit - making full use of our skills and resources.

“It’s a key part of our anti-poverty strategy as people who are digitally confident and able to make best use of online resources are financially better off.”

Mini sweeper driver and union learner representative Scott Henderson is one of the first Salford Digital Eagles.

“I’ve been a union learning rep for 15 years so I’m always looking for ways help my colleagues develop new skills. I am really excited to be at the start of a new movement in our city.” he said.

“I’ve taught myself digital skills but many of the guys I work with struggle – it’s just not something they’ve grown up with.” 

Barclays introduced Digital Eagles in 2013 with the aim of having the most digitally savvy workforce in the UK. Starting with 18 full-time Eagles in its bank branches, four years on there are now more than 18,000 Barclays Digital Eagles who have so far provided free technology advice to more than one million people.

Luke Christoforidis, Head of Barclays Corporate Banking Digital Eagles, said: “Digital Eagles are a great way of helping people to feel more confident about going online both in your own workforce and for the people who access your services.

“We are really excited to be working with Salford City Council and are happy to help any local authority or employer who wants to adopt this approach.”