As the UK gears up for National Apprenticeship Week, it's time to highlight an important philosophy that should be integral to every organization's values: "Skills for life."
“Skills for life” embodies the idea that the skills acquired through apprenticeship programs should not just be relevant for a specific period of time or job role, but are applicable across various aspects of life.
At CYPHER Learning, we believe this mantra should extend beyond those enrolled in apprenticeship programmes to encompass every employee within an organization. In building this mantra into organizational culture and continuing to upskill and invest in your employees, you create a culture of continuous learning. This orientation better prepares workers for future innovations and job force changes, increases their job satisfaction, and so much more.
Apprenticeships serve as a crucial stepping stone for individuals, enabling them to learn diverse skills applicable for their future careers and life. They help individuals learn practical skills from professionals sometimes decades into their field in both an efficient and cost-effective manner.
They’re also an opportunity for an employer to train employees from the ground up around their specific best practices – if done correctly. Tracking all of the required information and ensuring apprentices know all of the required skills can be a difficult task, but it is necessary for the success of both the company and apprentice.
The key to effective skills development is ensuring it directly aligns with the essential abilities and competencies needed for a particular role. This requires a thorough and personalized approach to professional growth. However, the journey towards embedding this comprehensive approach to skills development is often met with obstacles.
Traditionally, both new recruits and seasoned employees have encountered training that scarcely goes beyond outdated methods, such as PowerPoint presentations, which hardly meet the individualized learning and development needs.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) has forecasted that we are entering "a new era of turbulence" for the global workforce, with an estimated 25% of job roles expected to undergo significant changes within the next five years. This transformation is largely driven by the rapid evolution and integration of technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), underscoring the critical need for a workforce that is versatile and multi-skilled.
The forecasted era of turbulence calls for a shift in how we approach apprenticeships and career development in general. The ability to swiftly adapt to changing skill demands, coupled with a commitment to lifelong learning, becomes paramount in preparing the workforce for the challenges inherent in the evolving technological landscape. As industries undergo transformation, those equipped with a diverse skill set and a proactive attitude toward learning will be better positioned to thrive in this era of change.
As we celebrate National Apprenticeship Week and acknowledge the invaluable contributions of apprenticeships to business growth, it's equally important to ensure that businesses reciprocate by investing in the development of their apprentices. This mutual investment not only nurtures a skilled and adaptable workforce but also positions businesses for long-term success in an ever-changing global economy.
At CYPHER Learning, we advocate for a future where every organization adopts a "Skills for Life" approach, recognizing the transformative impact of apprenticeships not just as a means for workforce development, but as a catalyst for fostering a culture of continuous learning and adaptation. Let's seize this National Apprenticeship Week as an opportunity to commit to enriching the professional journeys of apprentices and employees alike, ensuring they are well-equipped to navigate the complexities of the modern work environment.