For those working across the UK’s public sector, the challenge of digital inclusion is a familiar one. In an increasingly digitised society, ensuring equitable access to technology isn’t merely a matter of social responsibility; it’s fundamental to building informed, engaged and empowered communities.
But, delivering on this imperative often clashes with the realities of tight budgets and existing complex IT infrastructure, making it harder to scale efficiently and reducing the overall impact of your efforts.
Dr. Jill Matterface, Education and Training Specialist for the Royal Air Force, highlighted a stark reality that 27% of cadets from disadvantaged backgrounds lack the technology they need to fully participate in the programme.
This tech gap translated into more than just missed lessons; it led to self-exclusion. Families that weren’t fortunate enough to find the funds for a new laptop would quietly opt out, while cadets who did join struggled with inconsistent access from borrowing devices or attempting coursework on their phones.
Digital literacy is a crucial life skill, especially for young people considering a future in today’s modern military where training involves digital productivity tools, online coursework and a large STEM programme that includes robotics and coding.
To bridge this gap, the Royal Air Force Air Cadets organised local squadron recycling drives and secured donations from business partners like defence contractor Serco. Then, ChromeOS Flex was used to transform the devices into fast, easy-to-manage and secure computers in only eight minutes.
As of late 2024, over 1,500 ChromeOS devices had been deployed, with a plan to double the scale of the initiative over time.
“We’re set to make a real difference in the lives of young people across the UK.” – Dr. Jill Matterface, Education and Training Specialist, Royal Air Force
As a Crown Commercial Services approved supplier and Google’s #1 Premier Partner in the UK and Ireland, we’ve unlocked funding from ChromeOS to help organisations undertake a managed proof of concept using ChromeOS Flex and see for themselves the sustainable, cost-effective choice they can make towards addressing the digital divide.
If you work in the UK public sector and recognise an opportunity to improve access to technology in the communities you serve, reach out to the Getech team for a free consultation.
