Can Online Training Help to Fill the Ever Increasing Skills Gap Caused by Brexit?

Following on from our blog on ‘Maximising your Training Budget in Challenging Times’, which talked about the impact of Brexit on sectors such as hospitality, social care and agriculture, it has come to our attention that the logistics sector is also facing huge difficulties. The logistics sector currently has more than 52,000 HGV driver vacancies, and with many companies employing 75% or more EU workers, and already seeing them leaving the UK, there is a real concern that post Brexit the vacancy numbers are only going to grow, causing major problems for the sector.

The unemployment rate in the UK is at a record all-time low of 4.1%, which is great news, however this still leaves around 1.6 million unemployed. Businesses and the government talk a lot about the skills gap and how this is having, and will to continue to have, a significant impact on the ability to trade in competitive national and international markets.  But, the skills gap is not just high level skills that so many talk of when assessing the negative impact on UK trade, it is also skills such as HGV licences and mandatory training for a specific industry that are so crucial for employers. So it would make sense to provide better access for the unemployed to retrain, or obtain further training and qualifications, in subjects that are sort after by employers. Just getting the first level of industry training can make a real difference to an employer, and therefore make that individual more attractive to the business than someone who hasn’t shown the initiative to undertake some training.

The adult social care sector is a good example of where the unemployed can get ahead of the competition for jobs. The carer role appeals to those who want to make a positive difference to the lives of others.  To enter the sector an individual is required to have skills such as compassion, patience and reliability, and are far more important to an employer than specific qualifications. However, anyone working in the sector has to have completed the Care Certificate and so employers taking on those new to the carer role will expect to put them through the Certificate training once they are employed. The major part of the Care Certificate is knowledge and understanding with a practical element that is completed in the workplace. The knowledge and understanding can be completed and certificated through an online course for only £24.00. As well as employers purchasing the training for employees, the eLearning Marketplace also has many customers who complete the Skills for Care approved online course prior to applying to work as a carer. These people have recognised that having the Care Certificate knowledge and understanding as an achievement on their CV gives them a great advantage over other candidates without the certificate. The same applies to training in food safety for those wanting to start a catering role, or licensing awareness for those looking to the hospitality sector for their next job role.

With the evolving online learning industry producing comprehensive, interactive, engaging and certificated training, it’s a great opportunity for organisations such as Job Centres to offer a wealth of cost effective training to the unemployed to improve their prospects. But more importantly, it can open doors to the unemployed that have perhaps previously been denied and offer employers a pool of candidates who have shown initiative and determination to enter their industry.

 

Author: Carolyn Lewis, Managing Director, eLearning Marketplace Ltd

 

Sources:

https://mhwmagazine.co.uk/post-brexit-uncertainty-over-workforce-leaving-business-stranded-says-fta.html