'Improve employees' digital skills via apprenticeships', organisation urges employers

30 Nov 2018

Research carried out by not-for-profit organisation The 5% Club has suggested that apprenticeships or training schemes could help to improve employees' digital skills.

The research found that fewer than 2% of employers feel confident that their employees are well-placed to take advantage of new developments in technology.

78% of The 5% Club's members believe that 'earn and learn' training opportunities could help workers to prepare for the future, whilst an additional 67% feel that apprenticeship schemes can help to upskill an ageing workforce.

Meanwhile, 54% said that apprenticeships can assist businesses in embedding new technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI).

The 5% Club is urging its members to encourage at least 5% of their workforce to take part in some sort of training scheme. 

'The increasing use of AI, data insight and other technological advances will become the expected norm for businesses in order to thrive and as such, we need to prepare our workforces accordingly,' said Lady Cobham CBE, the Director General of The 5% Club.

'At the same time, we will see a growing, ageing population, working for longer and requiring their skills to be updated more regularly, either in existing jobs or when developing their careers.'