Lloyds Bank to launch digital skills centres in Wales

Banking giant Lloyds is planning to support 100 community centres throughout the UK to help deliver digital skills training to the public – with five planned for Wales.

Also known as “online centres”, they’ll partner with local branches to help customers understand and benefit from the opportunities available on the internet.

Through face-to-face training, the company wants to help more than 30,000 people across the country boost their digital literacy and make the most of online services.

The centres are unique to local communities in that they focus on delivering a range of digital and social inclusion programmes relevant to those in the area.

And training sessions will be delivered in a range of ways, including drop-in sessions, formal classroom based education and outreach sessions led by digital specialists.

Lloyds has teamed up with the Good Things Foundation, a charity that aims to help people overcome social challenges, and wants to build a digitally inclusive society.

Allan Griffiths, Lloyds Banking Group Ambassador for Wales, said: “Being able to support local communities in Wales with essential digital skills is critical to drive social mobility.

“I’m delighted that we are growing our partnership with Good Things Foundation to support the Online Centres, which will make a huge difference to people by allowing them to develop their digital skills, in their local area, in a way which best suits their needs.

“This is why Lloyds Banking Group, as part of its Helping Britain Prosper plan, has committed to provide digital skills training, including training on internet banking, for 2.5 million individuals, SMEs and charities by 2020.”

Helen Milner, CEO of Good Things Foundation, added: “We’re delighted to be working with Lloyds Banking Group to support 100 of our Online Centres to help learners to improve their digital skills.

“Working with Lloyds Banking Group means we can extend our impact and reach even more people, and we hope that relationships built between Online Centres and Lloyds Banking Group branches will support people for many years to come.”

Image credit: Alan Levine