What can you do to address the skills gaps in your workforce?

In today’s rapidly evolving job market, digital skills have emerged as a cornerstone of success in multiple industries.

However, a concerning trend has surfaced within the UK, with a significant gap between the digital skills demanded by employers, and those possessed by their current workforce.

This growing disparity poses challenges not only for those seeking employment, but also for businesses striving to be competitive in an increasingly digital landscape.

The current landscape

According to recent research by Oxford Learning College, an alarming number of UK workers believe they don’t currently have the necessary digital skills needed to perform in their current role.

When you also consider that 88% of young people believe that digital skills are essential for their career development, you can start to see the scale of the problem.

Without the required digital skills, employees may struggle to perform tasks efficiently, leading to less productivity and hindered business growth.

The younger generation also recognise the importance of digital skills in securing future career opportunities.

The challenge lies in bridging the gap between the digital skills they possess and those sought after by employers.

Employers must prioritise providing relevant training and resources to nurture these skills among young professionals.

The same research revealed that most UK employers believe that digital skills are not only extremely valuable for their business, but are seen as important to have in their workforce.

In an increasingly digitized economy, basic digital literacy is no longer optional, but essential. Whether it’s navigating digital platforms,
using productivity software, or understanding data analytics, employees must possess foundational digital skills to thrive in their roles.

Employers should therefore prioritise providing training and support to ensure their workforce is equipped with these capabilities.

66% of large UK businesses also said that the currently struggled to recruit employees with the skills they need.

For businesses, the inability to find candidates with the required digital skills poses a significant obstacle to growth and innovation. The talent pool may lack individuals proficient in emerging technologies or digital tools crucial for driving business success. This highlights the urgency for employers to invest in upskilling their workforce or implementing effective recruitment strategies to address skill gaps.

What can you do to address the digital skills gaps in your workforce?

As an employer, you should create a supportive learning environment where employees feel empowered to enhance their digital skills and pursue career progression wherever possible. This would encourage more employees to pursue progression opportunities within your business, and help to attract more suitable candidates.

The fear of being left behind due to inadequate digital skills can deter individuals from pursuing opportunities to progress in their career.

20% of people said a lack of digital skills stopped them applying for a new job or going forward for a promotion. This not only effects personal growth, but also deprives businesses of valuable talent.

Our top tips:

Invest in training and development

You should explore opportunities to provide sufficient digital skills training in order to upskill employees in relevant digital competencies. At The B2W Group, we offer a range of options such as apprenticeships, digital skills bootcamps and short courses designed to give people the key digital skills and knowledge to thrive in the workplace.

Embrace digital transformation

We also believe that creating a culture of innovation and digital adoption within the organisation will encourage your employees to explore new technologies and digital tools that can enhance productivity and efficiency in their work.

Promote lifelong learning

You should also encourage your employees to adopt a mindset of continuous learning, emphasising the importance of staying updated on emerging technologies and industry trends. We’d recommend providing your staff with opportunities for professional development and support them to pursue accredited certifications that will help them to upskill, improve their output and ultimately benefit your business.

Closing the digital skill gap requires concerted efforts from employers, educators, policymakers, and individuals alike.

By prioritising digital skills development and creating a culture of lifelong learning, you can position your business for success in an increasingly digitalised world, while empowering your workforce to thrive.

How we can help

At The B2W Group, we have a range of training options available that could benefit your benefits.

Our pre-employment training service provides job-ready candidates that have already acquired the necessary skills needed to fulfil your vacancies.

Our tech accelerator programme delivered by Just IT has also been designed to develop your existing employees and improve your talent acquisition, with programmes in IT, Data and Software Development available.

We also provide digital, tech and IT apprentices via Just IT. Read more about why you should hire an apprentice here

The B2W Group has a fresh approach to transforming businesses by up-skilling their current staff or bringing an apprentice into the business to add a dynamic and dedicated individual to the team. All of our courses are available through various streams of government funding so are a cost-effective way to provide high-quality training within the workplace.

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info@b2wgroup.com

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