[New] Skills shortages are impacting businesses across all sectors

The Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce has been awarded the government-funded program LSIP, Local Skills Improvement Plan. LSIP is designed to bring together businesses and education providers to discuss the skills needed now and for the future. Organisations, particularly SMEs, will be given a much stronger voice in local skills planning with colleges, universities, and other training providers.

Herts Chamber is calling out to all businesses! Skills shortages are impacting businesses in all sectors and at all levels. If you would like to be part of the skills shortage solution, please complete the LSIP survey using the QR code. By completing the survey, you have the potential to benefit all businesses and future employees as well as help the growth of our county’s economy.

Together we can help address the challenge in matching the skills people can offer with the skills that are needed.

So, what might you do?

• Create in-house training programmes to inspire and attract employees and new talent who wish to switch careers.

• Offer apprenticeship schemes (related to in-demand skills) that appeal to the over-50’s. This is a great way to use your Apprenticeship Levy since Apprenticeship Schemes are appropriate to all age groups.

• Develop returner programmes to promote ‘unretirement’ while providing refresher industry training encouraging expertise back into your business.

Step to Your Success

Step2Skills provide Hertfordshire residents aged 18+ with a wide variety of courses and opportunities to learn, upskill and improve their wellbeing and employability. We are part-funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency and European Social Fund and as such the courses we provide are primarily low-cost.

Our offer includes ICT and digital skills, Employability and work skills courses and workshops and we provide accredited learning including English and maths for those that would like to gain qualifications.

Our Employment Support service helps people with diagnosed or undiagnosed disabilities (covering neurodiversity, mental health, sensory needs or learning and physical disabilities) to find sustainable paid employment, education or training. Specialist advisors work closely with each individual, adapting the service to their needs and providing ongoing personal support until they are fully established in their roles.

We also work alongside businesses to provide tailored support in helping individuals reach their potential as valuable employees and team members. Working together, we can promote greater diversity and opportunity throughout Hertfordshire and help our communities and local businesses become more inclusive and Disability Confident..

To find out more about Step2Skills visit our website: www.step2skills.org.uk or email us on step2skills@hertfordshire.gov.uk

Population growth is slowing due to people living longer and a declining birth rate. The result is a seismic shift in our working-age population. As the ageing population takes hold, it forces perceptions of getting older to change as we battle an ongoing talent crisis.

Being in our mid-50s is merely midlife and, for many, still mid-career. With UK job vacancy levels around 1.2 million presently, it does not make economic, business, or logical sense to ignore the potential of older workers as a solution towards the UK’s significant talent shortage.

A 2021 ageism report by Social Values business 55/Redefined quoted that 42% of those over 55 would consider retraining or reskilling to further their work prospects or change career.

• Adapt your employer brand, training opportunities and job vacancy promotions to social media platforms that are more frequented by this demographic audience.

• Become an age-friendly companyadapt your employer brand and ED&I, encouraging access to new or enhanced opportunities.

Hertfordshire Chamber Patrons Tate Recruitment will work closely with 55/Redefined and Career Consultancy Positive Career Advice in 2023 to promote the benefits of training and retaining this valuable generation to businesses while encouraging and inspiring their candidates to upskill and progress their careers. After all, they say life begins at 50.

For more details: www.tate.co.uk or email emma.tarbox@tate.co.uk

Hear from one of our participants: “I’d happily recommend Step2Skills to anyone who needs it, they’ve been really helpful and supportive, and they’ve worked to get me a position that’s right for me and have made me more confident and helped me over the hurdles that I had in the process.”

William Ironside, Step2Skills Inclusive Employment participant and Trainee Sustainability Advisor at Stevenage FC