Government must place more emphasis on skills development and training support for business

Faced with economic shocks that have buffeted UK business over the last couple of years has led to tougher trading conditions and intense competition for skills.

Not my words but those from Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce of which Business West is a major player.

Shevaun has written what I think is a very timely-and worrying- introduction to the Business Barometer compiled  by the British Chambers of Commerce and the Open University.

Timely because it is an up the minute analysis of the UK skills landscape.

Worrying because our productivity and growth on which the state of the economy depends are being held back by what Shevaun says is “a critical shortage of workforce skills”.

Chambers of Commerce Local Skills Improvement Plans-or LSIPs-as Business West are operating in this region on behalf of government, are according to Shevaun Haviland, planning a key role in finding out exactly what firms need from their new recruits-particularly young people.

She says: “Local Skills Improvement Plans in England are bringing together business communities and training providers to ensure people can train for the jobs we have now and the new opportunities employers are creating as the workplace evolves.

“A lack of talent is already impacting severely on profitability and staff morale-with many firms turning away new business opportunities. A failure to act now could jeopardise jobs, livelihoods and the UK’s competitiveness”.

Government must play its part too.

They must create conditions for business to invest in training and development through the tax system.

That is not happening, and I am afraid that some companies are burying their heads in the sand on the vital need for workforce training.

A senior Further Education figure in Gloucestershire tells me there are far too many companies-mainly SMEs-spending as little as £5 000 a year on staff training.

I would like to see far more emphasis by government on skills development and training support for companies trying their very best to survive the cold winds blowing through our economy.