The Bank of Scotland is the first bank to sign up to Scotland's digital participation charter
Bank of Scotland (BoS) has become the first bank to vow to donate staff time and energy to helping ensure all Scots can get online.
The bank is the 200th signatory of the Scottish Digital Participation Charter, which is designed to encourage organisations to address the problem of staff or customers not having digital skills.
Nearly a million Scots don’t have the basic digital skills to use the internet. This means they miss out on the many services and opportunities that are available online.
Signing the Digital Participation Charter reinforces our commitment to helping individuals, businesses and charities to get the most out of our increasingly digital society.
Annette Barnes, managing director of Bank of Scotland (Retail), signed the Digital Participation Charter on Thursday 30 June and pledged BoS to committing staff time and resources to helping people develop digital skills.
Annette Barnes said: “Signing the Digital Participation Charter reinforces our commitment to helping individuals, businesses and charities to get the most out of our increasingly digital society. By working together, we can make a real difference in the communities that we serve.”
The charter is part of the Scottish Government's Digital Participation Programme, which is being run by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Orgnaisations.
The programme is working with charities, the public and Scottish businesses in a bid to improve digital literacy.
Led by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) it coordinates activity to promote digital participation and basic digital skills for all.
David McNeil, director of digital at SCVO, said: “We are delighted that Bank of Scotland has signed the Digital Participation Charter. Nearly a million people in Scotland still lack the basic digital skills to get things done online. Through our programme of activity we are pushing digital participation up the agenda, and accelerating the work being led by charities and community groups across Scotland.”
Organisations that embrace digital opportunities grow faster, innovate more and do a better job of meeting the needs of their clients and customers. However, half of charities and a quarter of small business in Scotland lack basic digital skills.
