Train and Train again : Bridging the Digital Skills Gap with Continuous Learning

Written by Grayce

The Digital Skills Gap is a phrase that Learning & Development professionals have been grappling with for decades. With the current half-life of technical skills at just two and a half years, skills development is a hot topic for employers. The popularisation of hybrid working and rapid digital transformation prompted by COVID-19 has only brought concerns about the skills gap and future employability into sharper focus. 

As technology advances at an unprecedented pace, the skills demanded by businesses are rapidly evolving. The importance of training and continuous training within organisations is becoming more and more apparent. 

Stats show that in the UK, 72% of organisations have unfilled positions that require digital skills, and 68% face challenges in hiring the digital talent they need. The rapid technological change underpinning digital transformation has created numerous opportunities for specialised talents in fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), automation, cloud, data and data analysis, cybersecurity, software and hardware, to name but a few. These technologies are revolutionising every aspect of our lives, often without our full realisation. As we progress towards 2030, an estimated 75% of jobs will demand advanced digital skills. The current talent market is fiercely competitive, underscoring the imperative for organisations to invest in training and upskilling their workforce. 
According to a McKinsey study, half the people born after 1997 in developed countries could live to 100 years old, meaning they will likely spend many more years working — and gaining new skills. That’s why it’s not enough to only provide your employees with the skills they need today, with long careers ahead of them, continuous learning opportunities need to be offered within organisations to not only retain talent – but to future proof today’s businesses. 
It’s a challenge that faces many large scale organisations and long established industries and one many readily admit they aren’t prepared for.   

Grayce believes in the power of new talent and fosters a continuous learning and growth mindset philosophy. Grayce's Performance and Development Director, Gemma Collins says: "We’re committed to setting our people up for success. The core of that mission is keeping up-to-date with the latest in-demand skills and learning approaches to ensure that we equip our people with the well-rounded skillset that employers are looking for. But we don’t just want to set them up for success today. Focusing solely on emerging talent, we know how formative a person’s first professional role is. So, we are passionate about providing them with a comprehensive foundation of professional knowledge and skills. Today's emerging workforce are tomorrow's leaders. Continuous learning becomes imperative for survival. Organisations have a duty to equip their people for success if they want to cultivate the next generation of leaders and close the skills gap, for good."