It’s Everybody’s Responsibility to Develop Digital Skills

We’ve all been guilty of finger-pointing.

The moment things get challenging, an ugly beast rears its head and we start to look for someone to blame. It’s instinctive… but it has to stop. We need to take accountability. For months, businesses and jobseekers have been pitching themselves against each other. “There’s a skills shortage. Nobody is applying themselves!” versus “There’s a skills shortage. Why is no one offering career development?” 

There’s a mismatch between expectation and reality. Let’s address it. 

Whose Responsibility is it to Develop Digital Skills?

Instead of going head-to-head, we need to work together. 

An industry-wide, collaborative effort to develop digital skills is the only way to get the kind of at-scale results the UK so desperately needs. This shortage is costing our country £63 billion a year in lost GDP.

What’s the solution?

Open source materials, multi-corporation training programs, educational partnerships, and a complete rewrite of today’s existing curriculum. We need to focus on emerging technology, not outdated (self-explanatory) legacy systems. 

How to Effectively Develop Digital Skills At Pace

Businesses want an instant solution. I get that. 

It’s intimidating to think that the ROI of Learning & Development takes years to materialise… but that’s the wrong mindset.

With the right strategy, it’s entirely possible for leaders to develop the digital skills they need, at pace, without overburdening their workforce.

I suggest…

1. Focusing on high-impact, bite-sized training programs that are proven to produce results. 
2. Embedding learning into your daily workflows. Twenty minutes a day will soon add up!
3. Encouraging peer-to-peer learning and mentorships. Trainees bring new ideas to the table.
4. Upskilling leaders to drive cultural change and set an example of continuous improvement. 
5. Leveraging external training and partnerships. There’s a whole world of potential out there.
6. Thinking outside of the box and giving all of your employees equal opportunity to become your next digital superstar. 
7. Rethinking recruitment strategies to attract fast-thinking problem-solvers who will never back down from a challenge.

Shifting the Blame Game to a Skills Game

We all share one goal…: success. 

Employees want to upgrade their CV and climb up the ladder. Employers want a skilled and adaptable workforce. That means everyone needs to pitch in.

Digital skills aren’t going to develop themselves.

In the coming months, I want to see…

• A proactive, industry-wide effort to follow technology trends and predict skill needs.
• Investment into Learning & Development increase to new heights, targeting niche technical skills.
• Employees put in the time and effort it takes to become proficient in something new. Persistence is key.

Will you take action?

Ross Clifford & Associates adapt to the future. Our recruitment processes help our partners thrive, even in challenging HR climates. Contact us today if you’d like to find out more about our people-first approach and the contribution we’re making to get UK organisations the skilled workforce they need.