employers facing talent poverty as skills shortages rise 130% in four years!

New research shows that the modest economic growth of the past four years has been met by an unprecedented shortage of skills, leaving thousands of vacancies unfilled. Despite a surge in job openings, the number of positions left vacant because employers cannot find people with the skills or knowledge to fill them has risen by 130% since 2011.

The figures show so-called “skills shortage vacancies” now make up nearly a quarter of all job openings, leaping from 91,000 in 2011 to 209,000 in 2015.

Although most sectors are suffering from skills shortages, the situation is particularly acute for some. Over a third of vacancies in electricity, gas and water and construction are now due to skills shortages, with transport and manufacturing not far behind. Only in public administration are skills shortages below 10%.

Researchers interviewed over 90,000 establishments across the UK to produce the Employer Skills Survey from the UK Commission for Employment and Skills. Widely regarded as being one of the largest and most comprehensive surveys of its kind in the world, the survey gathers data from employers on a wide range of issues - from skills gaps and shortages to investment in training and under-employment.

The report finds that
•the financial services sector has seen the sharpest rise in skills shortages, rising from 10% in 2013 to 21% in 2015.
•time management is a significant issue, with nearly 60% of establishments who reported a skills gap saying that their staff lacked the ability to manage their own time and prioritise tasks.
•across the UK, two million workers are under-utilised – that is, they have skills and experience which are not being used in their current job.

Advanced Learner Loans: the lowdown

Want to get promoted or change career direction... or maybe you want to get back to work?

What are 24+ Advanced Learner Loans?

24+ Advanced Learner Loans is a UK Government initiative set up to support people aged 24 or over who want to study courses at levels Three and Four at a college or training provider. At edudo, we believe everyone has a chance to improve their life chances through learning. 24+ Advanced Learner Loans allow people from all backgrounds to take this opportunity.

How do 24+ Advanced Learner Loans work?

24+ Advanced Learner Loans operate on the same basis as higher education loans, with no repayment until the learner has finished their course and is earning above £21,000.

Am I eligible?

Many people ARE eligible to apply for a 24+ Advanced Learner Loan. Loan eligibility doesn’t depend on your income and there are no credit checks.

It depends on your course, training provider, age, nationality or residency status.

Your course must be:

a Level 3 or 4 qualification (eg. A Levels)

delivered by edudo - who is approved to offer loans. 

You must be:

24 or older on the first day of your course

You must:

be living in the UK on the first day of your course

have been living in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man for 3 years before starting your course

be a UK national or have ‘settled status’ (this means there’s no restrictions on how long you can stay)

To find out if you’re eligible, use the eligibility tool on the edudo website here.

How much will I get?

How much you get depends on the type of course, course fees, and the maximum loan available for your course. The minimum loan you can get is £300. You can pay for some of the course yourself so you don’t have to borrow the full cost of the course. The money is paid directly to edudo.

How can I apply?

Get in touch with the edudo team on 0330 20 20 20 3 to find out more about 24+ Advanced Learner Loans and how to apply.

edudo: Working to support the success of the hospitality sector

In January, the British Hospitality Association in partnership with Department for Work and Pensions led an exciting national initiative throughout Jobcentre Plus. Hospitality Works encouraged employers in the industry to promote opportunities/vacancies to suitable jobseekers, enhance their knowledge to find the right people for their business, and link into locally available training to prepare future workers.

The hospitality industry in the UK is big business. After Business Services, Wholesale & Retail, and Healthcare, Hospitality is the 4^th largest employing sector in the UK. 4.9 million people, which is 10% of the workforce, work across 180,000 businesses in the UK’s hospitality sector.

Key Facts about the Hospitality Sector:

• The hospitality industry has been at the forefront of the economic recovery over the past five years, creating jobs in every region of the country for people of all ages and skill levels. It has contributed 17% of the UK’s net employment growth in that period.
• 80% of new employees in the hospitality industry over the past 5 years are 18-24 year olds.
• The sector provides the first taste of work for many young people, generating 1 in 6 of all new jobs among 18-24 year-olds.
• Hospitality contributed 4% of UK GDP in 2014, around £57 Billion, whilst putting £14 Billion into the Exchequer.

edudo has the key to supporting the hospitality industry

The above statistics demonstrate how significant a sector hospitality is in value and in the job market. What if we could up-skill those employed in the sector or even help those who want to start working in hospitality?

Here at edudo we have two initiatives that will add value to employers and employees alike, and contribute to strengthening the industry in general.

In the first instance, edudo offers learning opportunities to those already employed within the hospitality sector so they can achieve industry recognised qualifications, and drive their careers forward. A huge bonus is that there is funding for eligible candidates for a selection of learning programmes so there is no cost to your organisation or employee.

The second opportunity gives those looking for work in hospitality the opportunity to gain skills and qualifications relevant to the sector. This is a massive benefit for potential employers as they recruit work-ready staff who already have Food Safety and Licensing Law knowledge.

Whether you’re an individual operator or a national brand, we’d love to talk to you about developing your talent. You could reap a number of benefits, such as gaining motivated staff who want to stay with your business. If you’re recruiting front of house via the Job Centre, we can add value to your selection by putting candidates through an Workskills qualification and ensuring they are qualified up to Level 2 in Food Safety and also HABC Award for Personal License Holders. You can find out more about our courses here and get in touch here for more information and advice.

By Nicholas French