Propeller has been working with BIMA (British Interactive Media Association) to promote Digital Day 2015, a nationwide initiative when some of the UK’s leading digital industry professionals go into schools to give students an insight into life in the digital sector and advice on the jobs that exist within the digital economy. Ogilvy & Mather Group UK’s Vice Chairman, Rory Sutherland, kicked off Digital Day at one of the participating schools in London, with live video streaming technology used to create a ‘virtual event’ bringing Sutherland into all the other participating schools.

As part of Digital Day schools set their students three challenges, provided by sponsors Standard Life, Vodafone and Sony Music. Teams of five competed by taking part in workshops alongside leading British digital industry professionals.

BIMA (the British Interactive Media Association) also announced the findings of new research into the UK’s digital industry which found that the UK economy will lose billions of pounds if the digital skills gap is not urgently addressed. The total turnover of the 117 companies which completed the BIMA survey was £1.36 billion but an astonishing 95% of these reported that their growth was being held back by a shortage of available talent in the recruitment market. This will result in a lost revenue opportunity across the BIMA membership alone (281 companies) of nearly £445million in the next two years.

Bridget Beale, MD at BIMA said: “The findings of BIMA’s research survey highlight how much of a problem the digital skills gap has now become, with businesses unable to find the right people with the right skills for the digital roles they have available. The UK has established itself at the forefront of digital transformation and innovation yet we could see a huge missed opportunity to build on this unless we see more digitally skilled people entering the industry. We’re really excited to have the involvement of some amazing brands in Digital Day 2015 and there is a noticeable industry momentum towards making positive changes to tackle the digital skills gap. It’s wonderful to see both agencies and brands unite in helping future-proof our digital economy.”