The UK’s population has hit an amazing milestone – now at 68.3 million, we’ve officially overtaken France for the first time. But this growth comes with challenges.
Recent findings from the Manchester Digital Skills Audit paint a concerning picture: “Although recruitment dropped consistently by a third overall due to COVID, Information and Communication vacancies remained the majority of roles on offer.”
In other words, companies across the UK are struggling to fill vital technical roles, with some positions sitting empty for months.
While industry experts are sounding the alarm about these workforce gaps, there’s a silver lining. Economic forecasts suggest our growing population could actually drive opportunity – if we can bridge the skills gap effectively.
The key lies in turning our expanding workforce into our greatest asset.
The Training Centre Solution
“The key to addressing this skills challenge lies in flexible, accessible training solutions that adapt to both employer needs and learner lifestyles, which happens to be one of the main goals of training centres,” explains Paul Lewis QFP, Managing Director at Pitman Training Group Ltd.
Lewis is not alone in this approach. Between 2017 and 2022, the skills shortage issue now accounts for 36% of job vacancies. In response, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson introduced Skills England, an executive agency reforming the nation’s skills landscape.
As the Prime Minster put it, “From construction to IT, healthcare to engineering, our success as a country depends on delivering highly skilled workforces for the long-term. Skills England will put in place the framework needed to achieve that goal while reducing our reliance on workers from overseas.”
The Tech Sector
The technology sector feels this pinch most acutely. While demand for software developers continues to surge, the real crisis lies in the broader technical skills gap.
Lewis elaborates, “The tech sector’s demand for skilled professionals has driven significant interest in our centres’ web development, Python programming, and IT support courses. These specialisations are consistently delivering strong outcomes for our franchise partners.”
Industry-recognised qualifications gained by training centres have become crucial stepping stones into the sector, especially when the need for qualified individuals is so high. Training providers offer comprehensive, up-to-date programmes that accommodate working professionals’ schedules.
The Financial Sector
Although the skills crisis affects numerous industries, it can manifest in many different ways. For instance, the financial sector is evolving at an exponential pace. The industry may have many people qualified to understand finance, but those employees are also poorly trained in the rapidly progressing tech it takes to be successful
“Many financial businesses throughout the UK and Ireland are struggling to fill positions that require certified expertise in Sage, computerised accounting, and advanced bookkeeping. This is an issue that needs to be addressed now rather than later,” Lewis explains. “Individuals that require this expertise are simply building on existing knowledge and experience, so courses and programmes with faster completion times and built around their schedules are a better fit.”
For many finance professionals, gaining certified expertise in these skills has become essential for career progression. In fact, many large banking institutions and investment firms have invested in staff training for this very expertise, as internal development for employees already working in the finance world is found to be far more effective than new recruitment.
The Healthcare Sector
Another opportunity for training centres to help create job-ready candidates to fill in employment gaps is in administration. Medical facilities across the UK and Ireland desperately need skilled administrative staff who combine medical knowledge with technical proficiency.
Hospitals, medical centres, and doctor’s offices run on administration efficiency; however, along with organisational knowledge, these employees need a robust grasp of medical knowledge, like terminology and procedure.
“Training centres play a vital role in healthcare by offering specialised expertise through targeted programmes, which is a positive for employers,” explains Lewis. “For instance, many of our Medical Secretary Diploma graduates are frequently hired immediately because employers are actively seeking candidates with our focused training in medical terminology and healthcare software systems.”
What’s Next?
Experts examining the situation are realising that the old method of education is failing. The UK needs ready workers now and can no longer wait for students to complete four years of education in a traditional university setting. This, along with the new influx of work-ready people, needs training now.
“What’s particularly encouraging is how our training centres adapt to meet local employment needs,” Lewis reflects. “With over 150 years of experience in career development, we’ve learned that the key to successful training lies in being responsive to both regional job markets and individual learner needs. Our franchise partners are perfectly positioned to deliver this personalised approach while maintaining consistent, high-quality training standards across the network.”
This article comes courtesy of Pitman Training, the UK’s leading professional skills and development training provider.
