A Consultation on the Digital Strategy for Scotland

Scotland’s previous digital strategy was published in 2017. It set out a vision of Scotland as a vibrant, inclusive, greener, open and outward-looking digital nation.

This vision is now even more compelling – however, the context in which it needs to be delivered has changed dramatically: not least as a result of the pandemic, and the end of the EU Exit transition period, which has compounded the challenges Scotland faces.

In September 2020, a consultation was launched to gather views and to inform the content on a proposed new Digital Strategy for Scotland, written in collaboration with COSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities).

The consultation received 235 responses from all sectors of society. 165 of these were from organisations and 66 from individuals. The responses were analysed by Why Research who produced a detailed consultation analysis report.

The responses received indicated widespread agreement that the vision set out in the supporting narrative in each of the sections of the consultation paper was the right one. This support for the strategy, its vision, strategic intents and potential actions, became ever more paramount for many, as the coronavirus pandemic demonstrated a capacity for organisations to respond to changing circumstances and offer a more flexible and agile service. 

The strategic intent of ‘No One Left Behind’ was seen to be central by many respondents, as was collaboration across a wide range of sectors including public, third, businesses in general, digital technology businesses, academia and community groups. Respondents also defined a need for effective digital leadership from the Scottish Government, together with a clear understanding of the roles and responsibilities of all involved.

There was also recognition of the need to transform government and NHS bodies to become digital organisations; and references to the need to pool and share digital and data expertise.

You can request a copy of this report by contacting DigitalStrategyforScotland@gov.scot.

Using the insight gathered from the consultation, the Scottish Government and COSLA developed a new digital strategy, designed around the needs of Scotland and its people and this was published in March 2021.

The new Digital Strategy for Scotland “A changing nation: how Scotland will thrive in a digital world” outlines the actions the Scottish Government will take across three key areas:

• People, Place and Society;
• A Strong Digital Economy; and
• Digital Government and Services.

In addition, we published a report summarising the significant progress we have made on delivering the goals outlined in the 2017 Digital Strategy for Scotland:

• Building a digital nation in which we are open, ethical and working with others to meet new moral, environmental, regulatory and security concerns;
• Geography, background or ability is no barrier to getting online;
• Our children are prepared for the workplace of the future and skills development is available for the existing workforce;
• Our public services are personal, accountable, adaptable, efficient, secure, sustainable and worthy of public trust;
• Our government, NHS and Councils are transformed into true digital organisations;
• Our businesses embrace the economic opportunities of data, technology, digital marketing and new ways of working.

We continue to make progress on all of the actions in the new strategy in collaboration with COSLA. You can keep up to date with the progress of this by subscribing to our regular Digital Scotland newsletter.