Last year, consultation with members defined our mission, ambitions and pledges. The CBI subsequently committed to support UK business to successfully navigate a future of work in which technology is rapidly changing skills needs, while expectations of employers by employees and society increase. For skills specifically, this means delivering a step change in how businesses can access and deliver high-quality training.
What are adult skills?
Adult skills are the behaviours, competencies and knowledge that over-18s exhibit. They can broadly be differentiated between industry-specific skills and transferrable skills which can be carried across industries, such as communication and critical-thinking.
The importance of adult skills cannot be understated. They dictate the quality and types of services that sectors across the economy can deliver. They also influence whether and how government uses other levers – such as automation and immigration – to raise productivity and keep the economy moving.
Why adult skills?
With 80% of the 2030 workforce currently in or looking for work, and the fact that 90% of workers need to be reskilled this decade, adult training has become an economic imperative rather than a workplace preference.
Conversations with members and research by the CBI has identified that training will be key to delivering sustainable growth and making the UK a more attractive place to work and invest in. Skills rank as the top threat to international competitiveness from a business perspective, and fewer than four in 10 (37%) firms are confident that they're investing enough in training to meet their skills needs.
The current state of adult skills therefore presents risks and opportunities that, if addressed correctly, could help to unlock the role of business as a deliverer of training – and realise the potential of skills and talent across the economy.
What do we want to change?
Businesses need confidence when making investments, particularly when there are competing pressures on organisational budgets. Training is no different. Members highlighted that this confidence can be strengthened by evidencing returns on their investment, and by ensuring that employers can access different forms of training that meet their individual workforce needs.
The objectives of the adult skills campaign can be distilled into two core objectives:
- To make the skills system respond better to business needs, helping businesses achieve ROI when they invest in skills.
- To challenge the focus on qualifications and apprenticeships to the exclusion of flexible upskilling. Businesses need both.
How can you get involved?
This is an opportunity for members, in partnership with policymakers and other policy stakeholders, to contribute to a solution-oriented discussion that helps identify tangible solutions to support businesses across the economy engage in quality training provision.
For further information, please contact Evie Matthews.