Transforming the UK into the world's leading talent hub for high tech industries Call to Action -- how to get a local conversation on digital and hi tech skills going Since the launch of our Call to Action on 11 July, Next Gen Skills has been contacted by MPs and local policy makers asking for a steer on how to start a discussion locally. Here are some tips, based on our experience with the schools and local authorities we have visited. Develop your local evidence base and explain the challenge Statistics from across the country show that take-up of Maths, Computing and other STEM subjects are worryingly low.  While the data is held nationally, we often neglect to develop this local evidence-base to spur leadership. A local discussion needs to set out the local challenges, framing the event in the light of publicly available information around: The speed of the Digital Revolution and pace of technological change Changes in the local economy and labour market Changing curriculum around ICT and Computer Science Take-up of hi tech skills locally Get your local authority to champion hi tech skills It might seem counter-intuitive at a time when government reforms are decoupling schools and education authorities that councils should have a role in a new area of study -- but local government, with its renewed focus on growth and economic innovation and its continuing links with educators and local firms, can play a key role to help get schools -- and children --