A new report by FutureDotNow has recommended peer-to-peer learning, gamification and reverse mentoring, among others, as factors to adopt to address the growing digital skills gap.

The report, which laid out a framework, outlined 15 key recommendations for employers, saying that most businesses are eager to embrace artificial intelligence, but the skills gap has hampered the adoption.

Among the 15 recommendations are peer-to-peer learning, gamification and reverse mentoring, as well as the role of managers in bridging the digital skills gap.

Already, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) said that upskilling is vital to drive innovation.

The institute said that the rapid advancement of technology in the workplace has left many people struggling to keep up.

Chief executive of the CIPD, Peter Cheese, said digital skills were “key to helping employers drive innovation, performance and adaptability in a rapidly evolving workplace.

“As this need for upskilling and reskilling grows, understanding what effective digital learning looks like is vital,” he said.

On the recommendations for employers to address the widening digital skills gap, the FutureDotNow report recommended organisations train ‘digital champions’ to “spread enthusiasm, share learnings and support colleagues”.

Additionally, gamification strategies, such as points, badges and progress bars, were found to increase engagement and incentivise training.

It stated that reverse mentoring was another strategy, where technology-adept junior staff guide senior colleagues.

It stated that PwC found the approach to deliver positive benefits not only for digital literacy but also for productivity, cybersecurity and overall collaboration.

It stated that hands-on practice and freedom to experiment were also recommended, as active learning tends to outperform structured training.

“Training should also be job-specific rather than general, to ensure employees engage properly, and provided in manageable chunks,” the report added.