A-levels alone don’t cut the mustard with employers seeking practical skills August 9, 2015 On Thursday, thousands of students will open their A-level results envelopes and learn their fate. A few letters will determine whether they get a university place or an apprenticeship, or climb onto that first rung of the employment ladder. Schools in London have undergone a dramatic transformation in the last decade, with the growth of [...]
To stay ahead in a digital economy, we must dismiss the myth that digital skills are only for a certain few July 31, 2015 To stay ahead in a future digital economy, leaders of any business need to culturally prepare for radical change. Today, the digital skills that underpin the success of our future economy lie in the hands of a small group of people. How many business leaders can confidently say they understand what goes on behind the [...]
Stricter visa rules to give firms headache amid skills shortage July 21, 2015 Proposed changes to rules governing who can work in the UK threaten to exacerbate the skills shortage facing employers, the head of a major recruiting body has warned. “Our data show that almost all businesses are operating at capacity and want to take on more staff to meet demand, but the reality is that chronic [...]
City firms splash out on red tape officers as demand for compliance skills boosts wages July 19, 2015 (Source: Emolument) City workers who help companies cope with red tape are seeing their pay rocket, as a wave of regulations boosts demand for their skills. Figures out this morning reveal that some firms are offering pay rises of 30 per cent in order to attract the staff they need “The more [...]
We need a new approach to tackle youth unemployment: Lack of proper skills is strangling productivity growth across EU – ACCA Comment July 15, 2015 It is no secret that productivity is not an area of strength for the UK. In fact, productivity levels in Britain are 21 per cent lower than the average for the other six members of the G7 – namely the US, Germany, France, Italy, Japan and Canada. Clearly mindful of this fact, and the [...]
CBI: Apprentice levy won’t fix skills crisis July 12, 2015 Britain’s top business group will lash out at the government’s new apprenticeships plan today, arguing that the move is “unlikely” to help fix the UK’s skills shortage. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) publishes a survey this morning showing that over half of firms are afraid that they will not be able to find staff [...]
Barclays share price climbs after board sacks Antony Jenkins in favour of boss with “new set of skills” July 8, 2015 Barclays chief executive Antony Jenkins has been sacked, with the bank's board saying it seeks a leader with "a new set of skills". Jenkins – who some dubbed the "nice guy of banking" – will leave the business on 17 July, when John McFarlane picks up the reins as executive chairman. A search [...]
Red tape to blame for City skills shortage: Demand for professionals stays strong but supply hampered by UK immigration rules July 7, 2015 Tough immigration rules and excessive regulatory standards has left City firms with severe skills shortages, according to new surveys. Growth in the number of jobs secured dropped to a two-year low in June, data released today by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation revealed. Demand for professional workers – which covers finance, law and IT among [...]
Study: Men overestimate their maths skills – which may explain the gender gap in STEM July 2, 2015 Men outnumber women significantly in technological professions, with giants like Apple and Google reporting that fewer than two in 10 tech employees are women. This isn’t because men are just better at maths and science, though. Instead, a new study suggests that it may be because men think they’re better than they really are. American researchers [...]
National Women in Engineering Day: Stereotypes are creating a huge skills gap in the UK’s engineering sector June 23, 2015 National Women in Engineering Day isn’t just a celebration. It’s a landmark opportunity to draw attention to a critical economic factor that can no longer be ignored: women need to fill an ever-growing engineering skills gap. Quite simply, the UK economy will not do well without engineers. Without skilled workers it is hard for [...]