More than 10 million UK adults 'offline'

In her role as the first ‘UK Digital Champion’, the internet entrepreneur will focus on encouraging as many people as possible to go online, so they can reap benefits such as access to public information and services, consumer savings, the ability to connect and network with others, and increased employability. Martha will also be encouraging more services to go online, and advising the government on ways to make its online services, such as directgov, more efficient.

The government hopes that in addition to the social benefits of having more internet-literate citizens, it will also help keep down the costs of delivering public services.

Martha Lane Fox co-founded lastminute.com in 1998 with business partner Brent Hoberman, floated the business in 2000 and remained on the company’s board until its sale in 2005. It is currently still Europe’s largest travel and leisure website. Martha is also the founder of the karaoke club chain Lucky Voice which currently has five bars and a growing online application. Martha is also founder and chair of Antigone.org.uk, her own grant-giving foundation, which supports charities involved with criminal justice, health and education. Martha is a non-executive Director at Marks & Spencer plc, Channel 4 Television and Mydeco, She is also a trustee of Reprieve.

Martha is driving the government’s agenda through the Race Online 2012 campaign. According to the campaign’s website, business owners can play a large part in getting more people online, by creating opportunities for staff to develop and improve their internet skills. Race Online 2012 has developed training resources to assist.

The campaign is also encouraging businesses which are not yet on the internet to reap the rewards of lower transaction costs, improved communications, and the potential to reach more customers through having an online presence.

Of the 10 million ‘offline’ UK residents, Martha says: “At the moment they are missing out on the massive advantages of being online which the rest of us take for granted, including average consumer savings of over £560 a year and the ability to access vital public services, and I want to change that.

"And whilst helping to bridge the digital divide is hugely important in its own right, there are also compelling economic reasons why we need to get everyone online.

“For example the government could save millions of pounds each year simply by doing transactions online rather than on paper or over the phone."