The Skills of Work is the latest Working Nation report and perhaps the most topical to date. In the context of the times we commissioned research intended to be of real and immediate value to businesses and our customers. Specifically, we wanted to investigate how reorganisations of workforces are impacting companies' skills base and the difference between surviving and succeeding in tough times. What emerges, fuelled by contributions from guest commentators, is the start of a debate about the need to stop defining 'skill' and 'talent' in exclusive terms and instead focus on creating value through people in a whole new way.
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To read this document you'll need a PDF reader. Get Adobe Reader ®In the latest Working Nation report, Penna plc CEO Gary Browning’s talked about the need for leaders to develop their own skills as a priority if they are to help lead the country out of recession.
Looks like some people have been listening - in Wales at least. A 37m scheme to boost leadership skills in the regions was launched this week.
According to a new report by the CBI Higher Education Task Force, schools and universities need to do more to increase young people’s employability skills, including the ability to take calculated risks, determination and a can-do attitude, as well as providing better quality careers advice. The report suggests that the recession highlights the need for the education sector, government and businesses to invest more in ‘ensuring that the country has the skills and knowledge necessary for its long-term success’. The report can be downloaded from the CBI website.
The consequences of the present skills gap in the UK workplace could be more serious than we thought - according to a new report by National Grid (reported here in the Wall St Journal) a future skills shortage in engineering could have a damaging impact on the UK’s transition to a low carbon economy.
The report chimes with Tony Manwaring (Tomorrow’s Company) essay in the latest Working Nation report - in which he predicts that all future skills will need be developed with a view to the wider social and environmental picture if we are to be successful. See the report here.
Interesting debate going on at the Economist website (the Economist Debates series is very good for those who haven’t had a look before).
Should retirement be abolished?
