Upskilling your workforce
Upskilling your workforce plays a key role in improving staff retention
Why should I prioritise upskilling my workforce?
Upskilling your workforce plays a key role in improving staff retention for a range of reasons.
Employee development and career growth
When organisations offer opportunities for employees to learn new skills, it demonstrates a commitment to their professional growth. Employees are more likely to stay with a company that invests in their future, as it shows they are valued and have opportunities to progress within the organisation.
Increased job satisfaction
Upskilling can lead to a more fulfilling and stimulating work environment. Employees who are constantly learning new things are less likely to feel bored or stagnant in their roles, which can reduce the likelihood of seeking new opportunities elsewhere.
Reduced turnover costs
Upskilling is a proactive strategy to retain employees, reducing the costs associated with recruitment, onboarding, and training new hires. Investing in existing talent is often more cost-effective in the long term than constantly hiring and training new staff.
Better job security
As employees gain new skills, they feel more confident in their roles, which can lead to a sense of job security. They see their growing expertise as a way to contribute more to the company, making them feel more essential to the organisation.
Improved employee engagement
Training and development initiatives often increase engagement by showing employees that their company cares about their career progression. Engaged employees are more likely to stay with the organisation and contribute positively to its culture.
Upskill employees in England
Skills Bootcamps
The Skills Bootcamps programme is an initiative launched by the UK government through the Department for Education (DfE) in England. It is designed to provide intensive, short-term training courses aimed at helping individuals acquire the skills needed to fill gaps in sectors with high demand for workers. As an employer, you can use this scheme to hire new staff or upskill existing staff.
There are hundreds of courses covering a wide variety of skills including digital marketing, healthcare and leadership.
Upskill employees in Scotland
Skills Development Scotland
Skills Development Scotland and partners have created a resource to provide details of funding and training for employers based in Scotland. As part of this, you can upskill your employees via the ‘My World of Work’ course search where you can search through thousands of free learning opportunities across Scotland.
Upskill employees in Northern Ireland
The ‘Skills to Succeed’ programme in Northern Ireland is a government-led initiative designed to help individuals develop the essential skills and competencies needed to succeed in their careers. It focuses on providing training and support to people seeking to enhance their employability, career progression and skill sets in order to better meet the demands of the labour market.
Upskill employees in Wales
CIMSPA’s Digital Marketing Hub (UK wide)
Enhance your employees digital marketing skills with this initiative from CIMSPA and Sport England.
The Digital Marketing Hub offers the self-employed, sole traders, small and medium-sized businesses, as well as volunteers, community groups, and charities in our sector the opportunity to develop their digital marketing skills for free.
The hub provides content covering important marketing skills including:
- Reaching new audiences – helping learners to reach new and more diverse audiences and drive growth
- Insight application – supporting sport and physical activity professionals and volunteers to better understand and apply audience and sector insight to inform their digital marketing activities
- Measurement – helping learners to set goals and KPIs and measure them effectively
- Channel skills – increase understanding of the key digital marketing channels, such as social, search, websites, email, and provide the practical skills to use them effectively.