SKILLS


Youngsters lack basic ‘soft-skills’


Young people are entering the workforce underprepared and lacking basic ‘soft-skills’, according to UK employers – with inappropriate mobile phone usage cited as a top annoyance. The survey of over 200 business owners by charity Central YMCA,


revealed that half (49%) believe the young people they recruit need to scrub up on the basic life skills needed to be a good employee. Highlighting their top bug bears, over a quarter of respondents said


young people failed to understand appropriate mobile phone/IT usage in the workplace, while 23% said effective timekeeping and punctuality was lacking. Other skills reported as below the required standard by employers included commitment to the job (22%), an ability to manage their personal finances (20%), and the ability to listen effectively (15%). Rosi Prescott, Chief Executive of Central YMCA, said:


“Young people will make up the next generation of our workforce, so it’s essential they’re equipped with the skills to ensure they’re work-ready. Good quality apprenticeships can really drive change here – a means of arming young people with the soft-skills that traditional education sometimes may fail to address.” The research also revealed that what is currently being


taught in education is not what employers want from employees – with those skills that have a high emphasis in schools, such as vocational and IT skills, at the bottom of employers’ lists of requirements. Rosi continued: “We’re now facing a robotic revolution


in which 35% of existing jobs are due to be automated by 2036 – meaning future skill requirements are becoming less and less clear. As a result, we’re currently engaging with Ministers, employers and schools to figure out how we can meet employers’ needs in this new age.”


APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING


Linden has been in training and quality, health & safety, and food management auditing since 1993. We specialise in delivering Apprenticeship Training to meet your specific business needs. Our experienced and friendly team of trainers work with you to develop training that is flexible and relevant.


We are all about building relationships with our clients and passionate about delivering high quality training.


Apprenticeship training includes but is not limited to:


• Food Manufacturing Excellence with Food Safety • Food Industry Services with Food Safety • Hospitality & Catering with Food Hygiene • Cleaning Operations with Manual Handling • Warehouse & Storage with Manual Handling/Forklift Truck • Horticulture & Arboriculture with First Aid • Business & Professional Administration • Customer Service • Team Leading & Management


To explore these funded opportunities further please contact us on Tel: 0800 2980632 or email info@lindenmanagement.org.uk


CLIFF COLLEGE CONFERENCE CENTRE


Cliff College provides education and training with a particular focus on mission and evangelism. The College is situated on the outskirts of the village of Calver in the Peak District National Park.


Historically, Cliff was a Methodist Lay Training college. Today our student body is both lay and ordained and from a range of denominational backgrounds.


A conference centre is also situated in the grounds of the College.


We are experienced in accommodating groups of varying sizes and with differing needs and we would welcome the opportunity to discuss with you all that we can offer in order to make your conference a success.


Friendly and professional staff are ready to help you from your initial enquiry through to the end of your conference. We look forward to welcoming you to our facilities. We can host both residential and day conferences in our glorious surroundings.


To discuss your requirements please call:


01246 584200 or 01246 584205 Email: conferences@cliffcollege.ac.uk For further details visit: www.cliffcollege.ac.uk/conferences/home/


business network April 2017 45


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