Instructus Group, the UK’s largest provider, registration and certification authority for apprenticeships and worked based education, welcomed the recent Office for National Statistics statement that the growth of the UK economy outstripped all other major industrialised nations in 2014. But as our economy grows faster than the US, Germany, France and even Japan, one issue looms large on the horizon of recovery – the palpable UK skills shortage.

The UK economy grew by 3.2% in 2014 and unemployment figures were at their lowest since 2008, with employment rising at the fastest rate since records began. Over the next three to five years, UK businesses expect to increase the number of jobs requiring leadership and management (73%) and higher skills (71%). However, 23% of employers stated in a recent CBI survey that they are not confident of filling their more highly skilled roles.

These skilled appointments can only be filled by appropriately trained or educated individuals, but with huge increases in the cost of university education, apprenticeships are increasingly being viewed as a genuine alternative with the potential to reach degree and even masters levels.

The old image of apprenticeships being solely for the young is no longer true. Instructus provide vocational work place education and employment to people of all ages and across all industry sectors and occupational groups. They are one of the change leaders in the future of apprenticeships, now determined by employers after a shift in central government policy, so that skills training and industrial strategy across the entire UK are aligned.

As backers of this more joined-up approach Instructus go further and have created their five key points for bridging the UK skills gap and maintaining our growing economy.

1. Education, training and employability skills – a country emerging from recession requires companies to have staff trained for the future. Cognitive skills combined with effective practical application, particularly future managers, are essential to support long-term economic growth

2. Movement of people and transferable skills – there needs to be a recognition that people don’t stay in jobs for life. All work based education must fulfil the immediate need, but be entirely transferable to other sectors

3. A can do attitude and capability – training must become increasingly outcome oriented – this means development of individuals must focus on what they can do (dynamic skills) rather than what they know (cognitive skills)

4. Employer outcomes must drive the way forward – training providers must focus more on employer needs and essentially positive outcomes. They must also deliver additional benefits to their customers, including recruitment of appropriate individuals to bridge skills gaps, and consultancy services

5. Collaboration, integration & strategic partnerships – UK skills and industrial strategies are now aligned and must remain so. Those executing the strategies must work collaboratively on all of the above.

“For Instructus, collaboration is the key note.” David Holland CEO of Instructus says:

“We invite employers to enter into a dynamic consultancy process, the outcome of which is often a long-term strategic partnership. Our bespoke education packages are tailored specifically for each individual business, taking into account their long term goals and aims for growth – this insight can only be gained by a truly collaborative approach and methodology. Instructus is at the forefront of training and educating the UK workforce in the workplace, we are here to help all businesses, no matter how big or small.”

David continues.

“Not everyone can afford the time or cost of university and frankly, there’s little substitute for learning in a hands-on manner from people skilled and experienced in the field, no matter what your age. Instructus is here to help employers and employees achieve their goals via training and education. This training will go a long way to not only filling the skills gap, but ensure those employers educating their workforces now are essentially future proofing not only their own business, but to a large extent, the continued growth and development of the nation.”

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