Upskilling: the key to fighting UK business uncertainty, skills gaps and productivity lags

by Jan 8, 2019Alumni news

It’s safe to say that UK businesses are facing a period of unprecedented change and challenges and it doesn’t look like it’s going to let up any time soon. Despite rising slightly in 2018, our productivity still lags behind our European neighbours and two years of preparing for Brexit has also cast a shadow.

Recent City & Guilds Group research – People Power – found that nine out of ten UK employers are struggling to recruit the skilled staff they need, and two thirds think that skills gaps are likely to get worse or remain the same in the next three to five years.

The solution though is in our own hands and we need to turn our attention inwards and start with our existing workforce. And that means now, more than ever, employers need to be upskilling their employees, investing in skills development and training programmes and driving tangible benefits of their businesses.

Read the full article on the HR Director website:  https://www.thehrdirector.com/features/skills-shortage/upskilling-skills-gaps909/

Other news stories

Case study: training colleagues to become digitally savvy at Barclays

In recognition of a changing digital environment, Barclays UK aimed to support colleagues to become the ‘most digitally savvy and inclusive workforce in the UK’ as well as ensuring that customers and communities were not ‘left behind’. What started as an internally...

Developing a talent pipeline in the digital age

How do you prepare your workforce for the future, when that future is uncertain? Tata Steel needed a way to tackle workplace challenges, like: Changing ways of working Traditional roles becoming obsolete New technology Skills gaps So Huw Mathias, Training Delivery...

New for 2018: hands-on workshops announced to help with your application

Due to popular demand we are running a number of workshops to offer practical help and support to anyone thinking of applying for a Princess Royal Training Award in 2018. You will have the opportunity to get ideas and support on how best to apply and we...

Sharing In Growth programme wins royal training accolade

​Sharing in Growth has been commended by HRH The Princess Royal, President of the City and Guilds Group, by picking up a 2020 Princess Royal Training award. Now in its fifth year, the Princess Royal Training Awards recognise organisations across the UK with...

Case study: Islamic Relief investing in the life-blood of the organisation

In 2016 Islamic Relief made the decision to change how it trained its volunteers in order to reduce turnover and stand out in a competitive market place. The Volunteer Leadership Programme was created and 1000 volunteers registered for one of 30 places.Impact from the...

City & Guilds Group chief exec visits East Coast FM

Chris Jones, chief executive of the City & Guilds Group and Sally Eley, Director of Corporate Relations and leader of the Princess Royal Training Awards team visited 2017 award recipients East Coast FM last week. They were invited to take part in their morning...

Case study: helping employees feel included and psychologically safe at Sparta Global

There’s a big question mark over what training in a hybrid working culture should focus on. People want to feel better connected to colleagues and more flexibility in where they work from. To make training work for all, inclusivity will be key.   But what is best...

Case study: a sustainable approach to securing the next generation of leaders at OnSide

The youth work sector has faced significant challenges in recent years, with a billion-pound reduction in investment and a depleting pool of talent in senior leadership.OnSideYear awarded 2022Region BoltonSize <50 employeesSector CharitiesEmbracing challenges...

Case study: a small programme at MPCT with a big impact

In a post-pandemic world, where mental health issues have risen considerably on a global scale, investing in the mental health and well-being of employees has become increasingly significant for businesses and organisations.MPCTYear awarded 2021Region CardiffSize 178...

Royal seal of approval for nucleargraduates again

A west Cumbrian training organisation is celebrating after scooping an award that recognises excellence in workplace learning programmes for the second time. Lillyhall-based nucleargraduates is one of only 43 recipients from a range of sectors nationally to be given...

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

HRH The Princess Royal discusses the diverse range of Princess Royal Training Award organisations

In this video series, Kirstie Donnelly MBE, Chief Executive of City & Guilds, talks with our president HRH The Princess Royal about the importance of skills on society, about the role we play as an organisation and about the Awards that we created in her name – The Princess Royal Training Awards – which are celebrating their tenth anniversary.

HRH The Princess Royal discusses the value of City & Guilds to society

In this video series, Kirstie Donnelly MBE, Chief Executive of City & Guilds, talks with our president HRH The Princess Royal about the importance of skills on society, about the role we play as an organisation and about the Awards that we created in her name – The Princess Royal Training Awards – which are celebrating their tenth anniversary.

HRH The Princess Royal discusses the changing world of skills

In this video series, Kirstie Donnelly MBE, Chief Executive of City & Guilds, talks with our president HRH The Princess Royal about the importance of skills on society, about the role we play as an organisation and about the Awards that we created in her name – The Princess Royal Training Awards – which are celebrating their tenth anniversary.

A decade of excellence and a room full of inspiration – Princess Royal Training Awards Skills Share 2025

On 30 April 2025, City & Guilds hosted its second-ever Skills Share event – this time at the stunning Goldsmiths’ Hall in London – marking a major milestone: 10 years of the Princess Royal Training Awards. With over 130 Award recipients in attendance, the event was not just a celebration but a forum for shared learning, inspiration and reflection on what a decade of investment in skills development really means.

Ten Years of the Princess Royal Training Awards

In the tenth year of the Princess Royal Training Awards we take a look back at some of the recipients including Balfour Beatty, Fifty Shades Greener and Pret A Manger to find out what achieving the standard means to them and their organisations.

Case study: OnSide Youth Zones

Hear about Princess Royal Training Award recipients OnSide and their award-winning youth centres in this video.

Case study: Pret A Manger

Hear about Princess Royal Training Award recipients Pret A Manger and their award-winning Pret Academy in this video.

Case study: The Dean Hotel Group and Fifty Shades Greener, our first recipients from Ireland

In this video hear about Princess Royal Training Award recipients The Dean Hotel and Fifty Shades Greener, our first recipients from Ireland.

Highlights from the 2024 Princess Royal Training Awards Ceremony

We’ve captured the key moments of the Princess Royal Training Awards ceremony on 21 November 2024. Have a peek inside Goldsmiths’ Hall in London as we celebrate the 2024 recipients in the presence of HRH The Princess Royal.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This
Princess Royal Training Awards
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. For more information see our Privacy Policy.