Technology
Croydon Invests £500,000 in Digital Skills as Tech Sector Booms 41%
Free courses, a new digital zone at Central Library, and a £500,000 creative lab investment highlight Croydon's push to close the digital skills gap amid a 41% tech sector boom.
How we reported this
Croydon is scaling up its digital literacy push with a growing portfolio of free, accredited courses and drop-in support, part of a wider investment story that mirrors the borough's rising status as a London tech cluster. The initiatives, funded by the council and partners, aim to equip vulnerable adults and low-income residents with skills from beginner to Level 2 qualifications.
The borough's tech sector has grown by 41% over the past five years, employing more than 8,000 people, and with 2,450 start-ups launched in 2018/19 alone, demand for digital skills training has never been higher. But access remains uneven, many older residents, unemployed adults, and those lacking formal qualifications face barriers to participation in the digital economy.
Free Courses and a New Digital Zone
At the heart of the response is CALAT (Croydon Adult Learning and Training), which offers free OCN-accredited digital skills courses from beginner through Level 2. The courses are held at Croydon Clocktower and other centres across the borough. They are targeted specifically at learners without existing digital qualifications or those on low incomes, making them accessible to some of the most excluded groups in the community. [1]
Croydon Central Library has also opened a new digital zone, equipped with free computers and WiFi. Weekly workshops delivered by digital inclusion partner ClearCommunityWeb cover online safety and app navigation. The sessions are informal, drop-in affairs designed to build confidence for first-time users. [2]
The 'Connect Up Croydon Digital Inclusion' programme extends this support further, offering free courses and drop-ins across all Croydon libraries. Funded by Arts Council England, the programme targets vulnerable adults, particularly older people and those who are unemployed, and runs alongside the library service's broader digital offer. [3]
Library members also get free access to more than 60,000 ebooks, eaudiobooks, magazines, and newspapers in 130 languages, plus tools such as Theory Test Pro, reinforcing the library's role as a digital hub rather than just a place for physical books. [4]
Funding and Future Growth
The council's commitment extends beyond library-based support. A new creative digital lab at Weatherill House, backed by £500,000 from the City of London and Greater London Authority, plus £400,000 from StartUp Croydon charity, is set to open in autumn. The lab will support local businesses and help upskill residents. Croydon was also designated one of London's Creative Enterprise Zones by the Mayor of London, a designation designed to foster creative industry growth. [2]
For families, Parentzone provides a dedicated Croydon local guide offering media literacy education and advice on countering online risks, ensuring that digital skills training reaches schools and parents as well as individual learners. [5]
With free courses, a growing network of drop-in support, and new investment in digital infrastructure, Croydon is positioning itself to ensure its tech boom benefits not just the well-connected, but the entire community. Residents interested in the free courses can contact CALAT directly or visit Croydon Central Library's digital zone for information on upcoming workshops.