Have you considered whether your staff have the skills needed for the future? In a rapidly changing business environment, ensuring your organisation has the skills needed to take advantage of new opportunities can make the difference between success and failure. Industries change, new technologies emerge and the working environment develops, all requiring employers to recruit skilled staff and develop their existing teams.
A relatively short time ago, skills used for Data Analysis and implementing Cloud Technologies would have been considered niche, seen only in the likes of Silicon Valley. These two same skill areas have now been crowned the most valuable in 2017 by the Business Insider UK, a change created by new technologies. The challenge this presents for you as an employer is that the supply of qualified staff often lags behind the demand, creating the skills gap.
As technology becomes engrained in daily activity, the impacts felt from a lack of technical skills are felt far beyond niche and new technology industries. In fact for staff working in Sales and Marketing, Admin and Clerical, Human Resources and Accountancy and Finance, technical skills are needed for range of areas such as video conference calling, creating reports in Excel, using PowerPoint to visualise data and researching competitor information online. Despite this, according to the Digital Skills Crisis report, 12.6 million of the adult UK population lack basic digital skills, and an estimated 5.8 million people have never used the internet. With technology moving so quickly, how can you future proof your organisation and ensure your staff have the skills your business needs to remain competitive in 5 years?
Training and development
From induction programmes for new starters to training for existing members, creating an environment of development and learning is essential. A mixture of both internal and external resources will often yield the best results; this could include areas such as subscriptions to online training sites, seminars, conferences and even knowledge sharing by giving staff the time to share skills. You can read more about engaging and retaining your employees here.
Staying ahead of the curve
What are the latest developments in your sector? Keeping your finger on the pulse will help you to recognise new technologies to incorporate into your team and drive growth. Being aware of what is available and introducing innovations into your organisation will help you stay ahead of the curve, and create a workforce with the skills needed to succeed.
Recruiting a skilled workforce
Working with a recruitment partner who can recruit candidates with a broad range of in demand skill sets is essential. At Brook Street we utilise a range of attraction channels to connect with local talent, and through understanding you and your business culture and future ambitions, can match the very best candidates with your team.
To find out more about how we can help you maintain a highly skilled workforce, contact your local branch.
