Technology
Coventry's Tech Startups Get Free Digital Literacy Resources, University Support
Free sessions, hubs and university support help sustain the city's high density of startups that sets it apart internationally.
How we reported this
Coventry City Council's #CovConnects programme and the Digital Access Hub run by Coventry Citizens Advice supply residents with practical digital skills that underpin the city's ranking as the most entrepreneurial in the UK, with one startup for every 79 people.
The city's startup ecosystem stands at number 32 in the United Kingdom and 484 globally, with 46 top-ranked startups identified as of July 2026. Digital literacy programmes directly feed this environment by offering accessible training that helps people move from basic tasks to the skills required in tech ventures and advanced manufacturing.
Drop-in sessions across multiple neighbourhoods
#CovConnects delivers free weekly digital skills sessions at the WATCH Centre in Hillfields, Moat House in Henley Green, Holbrooks and the Gilbert Richards Centre in Earlsdon. Coventry Citizens Advice opened its Digital Access Hub at Kirby House on 15 Little Park Street, where staff provide face-to-face help with everyday digital tasks from Monday to Friday without appointments. The hub received a £36,000 government award intended to reach 600 people.
Additional free drop-in sessions organised by Coventry Independent Advice took place in 2025 at libraries in Stoke, Tile Hill, Willenhall and Foleshill. These locations sit alongside the broader network of library digital inclusion hubs that supply free Wi-Fi, device loans, VR experiences and e-resources.
University centre and adult education routes
The Digital Literacy Centre at Coventry University assists College of Engineering, Environment and Sciences students through training that ranges from programming to email etiquette, with online resources and regular drop-in sessions held in EC1-24. The Adult Education Team offers further ICT courses listed on the council website together with more than 400 digital guides produced by Digital Unite.
These layered resources create a pipeline that supports both individual residents and the wider startup community. Coventry University also opened a Start-Up Hub in the William Morris building to provide co-working and incubation space for student entrepreneurs, complementing the digital skills work already under way.
Residents can locate current session times by visiting the Coventry City Council website or contacting the listed venues directly. The same sites publish details on how to access device loans and the full range of free courses.