All Newcastle and Northumberland businesses are urged to speak up to skill up – and book free skills workshop

Our region’s communications skills are in high demand. In fact, 38% of businesses consider the ability to communicate in a professional manner the most important skill for an employee, according to a survey we’re conducting at the North East England Chamber of Commerce.

We all know how valuable it is to be able to get your point across – whether that’s picking up the phone or sending an email – but it’s a talent most of us develop once we enter the world of work.

Does that have to be the case?

If the ability to communicate effectively is critical to success in the world of work, what can we do to make sure people can access courses to help them skill up?

The Government has tasked the chamber with working with the region’s businesses to identify which skills they need, whether that’s sector-specific knowledge or amongst more general professional capabilities, such as communication or digital skills.

The work is part of a project to develop a blueprint for local skills, known as the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP).

Where LSIPs differ from previous efforts to tackle skills shortages is that they are backed by legislation, with colleges and training providers required to align their courses to the plan and be assessed by Ofsted on how well they’re doing.

To make the plan as effective as possible, it’s important that every business is heard and has the opportunity to share their skills needs, both for now and in the future.

In short, we need every business to speak up to skill up.

We’re already hearing some crucial insights

Two-thirds of businesses (65%) say they are suffering from a shortage of sector-specific skills, a quarter (24%) say applicants for vacancies do not have the required skills or experience, and a similar number (23%) reported a lack of applicants for vacancies.

We’ve also been told about a disconnect between qualifications and the realities of the working world, as well as difficulties with traditional approaches to learning when dealing with fast-paced change in the world of technology.

These are the kinds of challenges which are facing the North East skills pipeline – but none of them are insurmountable if we can build better links between employers and the region’s education providers.

Book now to skill up

That’s what the LSIP aims to do, and there are lots of ways to get involved – such as completing an online survey, speaking to our team on a one-on-one basis or joining one of our in-person skills workshops.

The first workshop will take place on Thursday 20th April at 9.30am at Linden Hall in Northumberland. To book click here.

The second workshop is on Friday 28th April at 9.30am at the Village Hotel at Silverlink near Newscastle. To book click here.

Don’t miss your opportunity to skill up and have your say!