Time For Businesses To Invest In Internal Training?

Many industries, not only in the UK but around the world, are facing skills shortages. In the UK, Engineering UK’s report on the state of the sector for 2017 noted that there’s growing demand for more highly trained professionals in the sector.

In addition, the report suggested that there will be a shortfall of 20,000 engineering graduates to fill the roles required.

A recent survey by 6 Group looking at talent management and recruitment across 13 sectors worldwide found that many companies would do well to look at their internal training programmes to ensure they are able to compete in the future.

Just over half (51 per cent) of respondents stated that their current workforce has the skills and experience to meet their current needs. However, just 19 per cent said that their current workforce would be able to support their future needs.

Head of marketing and comms at the company Dan Solomon said that while there are challenges for businesses in all industries when it comes to managing and recruiting the right talent, these don’t change “the indisputable fact that strengthening how you acquire and manage talent is absolutely essential for the future success of a business”.

Within the engineering sector, this could involve working with your employees to encourage them to join engineering distance learning courses, enabling them to learn new skills while still working.

With more and more people in all sectors also considering career changes, it could also be worth targeting those with transferable skills and encouraging them to consider engineering as their next career move by highlighting the range of training and upskilling opportunities open to them.