Digital Strategy Rural Screening

Developing a            Policy   ☐          Strategy   ☒           Plan   ☐ 

Adopting a                Policy   ☐          Strategy   ☐           Plan   ☐

Implementing a         Policy   ☐          Strategy   ☐           Plan   ☐ 

Revising a                 Policy   ☐          Strategy   ☐           Plan   ☐ 

Designing a Public Service   ☒

Delivering a Public Service   ☒ 

Digital Strategy

The Digital Strategy will benefit all members of society regardless of how they self-identify.  The strategy has identified three key themes that will address the digital needs of all those situated in rural areas.  

Digital Infrastructure – strategy includes roll-out of digital connectivity programmes (FFNI and Project Stratum) that will enhance rural connectivity.

Digital Skills – strategy will inform Council‘s work with relevant bodies to develop educational digital programmes at basic, professional and advanced levels ensuring that those within rural communities have opportunities to avail of such programmes.

Digital Sector – strategy includes development of digital hubs and networking support that will outreach to rural communities.

The Digital Strategy will benefit all members of society regardless of how they self-identify.  The strategy has identified three key themes that will address the digital needs of all those situated in rural areas.  

Digital Infrastructure – strategy includes roll-out of digital connectivity programmes (FFNI and Project Stratum) that will provide reliable rural connectivity.

Digital Skills – strategy will inform Council‘s work with relevant bodies to develop educational digital programmes at basic, professional and advanced levels ensuring that those within rural communities have opportunities to avail of such programmes.  

Digital Sector – strategy includes development of digital hubs and networking support that will outreach to rural communities.  As seen throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, more individuals have seen the benefits of working remotely, it is highly likely that this will be a continuing trend once we emerge from the pandemic.  Digital hubs will be located in rural and urban areas to encourage young professions to remain in the area via remote working.
 

SECTION 3 -
Identifying the Social and Economic Needs of Persons in Rural Areas

Consultation with Rural Stakeholders     ☒          Published Statistics    ☒

Consultation with Other Organisations   ☒           Research Papers       ☒

Surveys or Questionnaires                     ☒           Other Publications     ☐  

Other Methods or Information Sources (include details in Question 3C below).  ☐ 

Council employed consultancy firm, GreySky Consulting, to provide expertise and assistance on Digital Strategy preparation. The consultants also provided insight into the needs of the community. 

Council conducted a survey in 2018, ‘Business Support Needs: Have Your Say!’ which identified that poor broadband connection directly affected how organisations conducted their business.  

Council through the Rural Development Programme has seen a growing need for broadband to be improved in these areas, to enable businesses to successful advance the services they can offer.  

Council’s Workforce Development Group has identified the need for improved broadband connection, an example of this would be CAFRE have indicated that students taking their courses are less likely to have a reliable internet connection in rural farming areas, resulting in more isolation and an inability to connect to resources and teaching staff online.

Economically: 

• The only costs incurred by this strategy are to Council.

Socially:

• Population of the region currently stands at 144,838.  
• Population by age – 18.4% are 0 to 14, 35.9% are 15-44, 27.3% are 45-64 and 18.4% are 65+.
• Gender – 49.5% of population are male and 50.5% are female.
• Dependents – 33% of population have at least one dependent.
• Labour Market – 66% economically active, with 61% of people employed and 26% self-employed. 3% of people are claiming unemployment of this 22% are aged 18-24.
• The median annual earnings for people living in the area is £19,900.
• Education – 16% have no qualifications, 56% have achieved a qualification below NVQ Level 4 and 28% have achieved a qualification higher than NVQ Level 4.
• Religious Beliefs – 40% are Catholic, 55% are Protestant, 1% have other religion and 5% have no religion.
• Political Opinion – 49% are Unionist, 35% are Nationalist and 16% are Independent
• Marital Status – 53% are married, 35% are single, 6% are divorced and 7% are widowed
• Racial Group – 91% identify are being from NI, 5% from rest of UK and the remainder from outside UK

Sources: 2011 UK Census and Invest NI Council Area Briefing 2019 

For this strategy, Council has considered the geographical make-up of the Borough and the needs of those in remote, rural areas who will require an upgrade to their digital connectivity and skillsets.  Indeed, there are some areas within the Borough that have no digital connectivity or digital skills at all, leading to an increased sense of isolation.  

As this strategy will not cost the residents of the Borough any money, the outcome of a coherent roll-out plan will only be beneficial to all the stakeholders.

 

Council has identified the need for improved broadband connections in rural areas, this strategy will enable Council to develop a coherent plan for the roll-out of FFNI and Project Stratum within these areas.  Council has also identified a need for upskilling to take place in relation to digital applications, enabling those in rural areas to remain connected.  Council had employed a consultancy firm to provide expertise and engagement with the community.  

Council will continually review the progress of the roll-out plan and if necessary, will engage with key stakeholders to ensure that all their needs are being fully catered for.