2020/21 has changed almost every aspect of how and where people work. The pandemic has seen our local employers adopt new recruitment strategies, and embrace more diversified recruitment options – including apprenticeships and upskilling staff – which they may not have considered pre March 2020.
Add in the effect of Brexit – which has seen substantially fewer European applicants for positions in many areas including hospitality, healthcare, construction/manufacturing skills and it is safe to say that recruitment over recent months has been challenging.
Our Employer Services team are working hard with local employers to support recruitment – identifying new apprenticeships opportunities and employment initiatives – and we are starting to see more potential candidates coming forward to fill a range of vacancies.
As we move into recovery – reskilling and reshaping our workplaces – employers need to take into account the negative effect the pandemic has had and will continue to have, on younger entry level workers. Little – or no – exam and workplace experience, loss of social interaction and limited opportunity to experience and build the transferable skills part-time employment has traditionally developed will undoubtedly affect confidence and self-esteem. We should not underestimate our role as employers and training providers in the holistic support that will be required for these applicants.
As the new academic year approaches we will continue to encourage students to undertake work experience to gain confidence prior to taking on a job or work based training opportunity, such as an apprenticeship.
We expect that the phasing out of furlough, proposed reinstatement of universal credit criteria and arrival of school leavers to the marketplace should see many more applicants now actively looking for employment.
With apprenticeship incentives and the Kickstart Scheme still in place now is a good time to consider reshaping and upskilling your workforce in preparation for the recovery months ahead.
Thinking about taking on an apprentice, upskilling your current team or creating a position for a Kickstart employee? Get in touch.
Visit: www.weymouth.ac.uk/employerservices | Email: employerservices@weymouth.ac.uk
Call: 01305 208709
This article is featured in the August edition of the Dorset Business Focus magazine. Read on the online version here.