Finding and keeping the skills you need

Fast-paced digital shifts have only accelerated as a result of COVID-19, further widening the skills gap. Nearly half (48%) of UK mid-market businesses surveyed said they would need skills that don’t exist in their workforce in the next two years.  

How can you start to get ahead of this? Thinking more widely on what the skills gap means may help with futureproofing digital transformation. Bridging the digital skills gap is not just about technical capabilities. Success also depends on 'soft' skills: from analytical thinking and innovation, to active learning – watch our chat on bridging the digital skills gap to find out more.

A third (32%) of business leaders also said they expect to invest more in skills development over the next six months. The digital shift to more flexible working arrangements looks set to continue with half of respondents saying they will offer more flexible work options, and 45% looking to invest in more online learning and skills development for their people.

Funding is a key consideration right now, as many are experiencing tightened budgets. Apprenticeships offer one way to ease the pain. And, if your business is eligible, you can use your Apprenticeship Levy funding to cover costs. Effective apprenticeship strategies improve employee retention and engagement and can build specific skills critical to business growth.

Find out more about the Apprenticeship Levy and how you might be able to get funding for your employees.

The role of people managers is coming to the fore in keeping organisations moving forward and supporting workforce well-being. Doing this remotely may require a new skills set for many, however. Communication, flexibility, responsiveness, sensitivity and clarity were all responses reflecting a transition from prioritising ‘hard’ skills to embracing ‘softer’ characteristics. 
It’s not surprising 57% of respondents believe the pandemic has highlighted skills gaps in their leadership teams. 

A new model of leadership is needed to help organisations succeed. People managers need to be resilient, adaptable and communicate well in order to help their teams feel connected while physically apart. 

Empathy has also emerged as a key leadership trait. This will mean different things to different teams but there are certain areas business leaders can focus on to nurture empathy for their people.

Businesses need effective leadership and management at all levels. As a leader, you need the right support to achieve your potential. Successful leaders structure their leadership around connections across the company. You will need to work with and be empathetic towards your team members, encouraging everyone to contribute, fostering innovation and skill development across the business.

“In volatile times leadership and management teams must have the right skills to see change coming, react to it and adapt quickly. Tools like the Apprenticeship Levy are designed to allow businesses to invest in training that will develop these skills. It can help improve the diversity of your senior team so that the mix of perspectives means you're better prepared for whatever might come down the line.’’

Justin Rix, Partner and Head of People Advisory

Find out about the courses we offer to upskill your leadership and management teams and prepare your business for the future. 

Businesses have proven they can operate and grow their people and revenues while working remotely.

More than half (54%) say that flexible working will help them access a more diverse range of talent and business suppliers. There are enormous opportunities through hybrid working to expand both teams and supply chains.

Your competitors can also access this talent, however, so it is essential to build an agile and inclusive culture to attract and retain the best people. If your company is inclusive, you will naturally attract a diverse team. Removing geographic restrictions also opens access to a greater diversity of people, leading to more innovation.

Encouragingly, 51% increased their well-being investment over the last year. Mental well-being continues to be one of the biggest concerns stemming from remote working. Efforts in this area will also pay off when it comes to retaining good people who may be temporarily struggling through this period of change.

Your business can thrive well in the future by taking steps to create an inclusive culture, encouraging communication and innovation, and nurturing your people to adapt to changes in the working environment.