The conversation surrounding skills and employment is becoming an increasingly loud one - and it's a discussion that Futures for Business is proud to be a part of.

The conversation surrounding skills and employment is becoming an increasingly loud one - and it's a discussion that Futures for Business is proud to be a part of.

Effective and innovative skills and employability underpins the very fabric of modern life. We are all invested in our own learning or encouraging our families, colleagues, employees or peers to learn, develop and progress. As such, there is always scrutiny on the best approach to developing skills; to benchmarking academic attainment; identifying future challenges; creating a coherent pathway from early years’ education through to a fulfilling career; dealing with current skills and productivity gaps… the list is endless.

Commercial Director at Futures, Sandra Cowley, highlights some of the key areas to focus on when it comes to developing skills and helping all people when it comes to employment.

Overcoming barriers

Whether they are social or circumstantial there are many different challenges people can face when trying to gain employment or further their career development.

“Confidence is a big one. It’s two-fold really, if you’ve lost a job it’s about having the confidence to find a new one, but also when you’re in work it’s about feeling worthy and having the self-belief that you’re worthy of promotion. The other side of that is having the confidence but not necessarily having the full spectrum of skills to get you through the door.

Another barrier may be that you want to go to work but have social problems or haven’t had base level education before entering the world of work. These skills need to be developed so you can get to the point of completing an application form or attending an interview. We work with people to overcome barriers and put themselves in a position where they’re ready for the next step.”

Developing personal skills/attributes

It’s not just about highlighting the skills you already have, it’s about understanding that even personal attributes are something an employer looks for.

Understanding opportunities and the role of education

Often people aren’t aware of the plethora of opportunities available to them when it comes to jobs, careers and goals. There needs to be a focus on how pathways can get you into a certain type of role whilst also being transferable, and this is where the education sector plays a crucial role in people’s future career decisions. It’s vital that schools and businesses work closely in order to be wholly effective; curriculum should relate to industry and role as well theory. Schools and businesses play a critical role in the movement of education and Futures want to, and are there to, brokerage those relationships.

“There are so many different jobs out there now. Traditionally if you went into a school and asked the children what job they wanted to do, they’d say a fireman, an astronaut, a nurse etc. It’s about understanding that these traditional roles are still there, but that there are also a variety of different jobs, and some of these may not even exist yet! As the world of work shifts from more traditional roles to those created by digital technology and artificial intelligence, the need for education and business to work collaboratively to ensure future and current workers are adequately prepared is becoming ever-more obvious and pertinent.”

What employers are wanting more of these days are those critical thinking skills- individuals who can work collaboratively, who are flexible, adaptable and resilient. The future of skills and employment set against a backdrop of change may lie as much in developing an individual’s own personal attributes and outlook as it is on developing specific work-related skills.

Developing the skills and employability of people is extremely important in enhancing both businesses and individuals. Contact Futures for Business to discuss your training and development opportunities on 08000 85 85 20 or email hello@futuresforbusiness.com.