# Tech awakening needed across UK workforce Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-10-25 Category: FINANCE Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/finance Meta Title: The Future of Digital Work: Addressing the UK's Skills Meta Description: Learn how digital support skills can revolutionise working practices in the UK, increase productivity, and bridge the growing tech skills gap. URL: https://financedigest.com/tech-awakening-needed-across-uk-workforcehtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/istock-1327893346-1736814981919-compressed.jpg) ![](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/derrin-kent-450x299-1736814981910-compressed.jpg) _By_ **_Derrin Kent,_** _Managing Director,_ [_The Development Manager_](https://thedevelopmentmanager.com/) Businesses and their employee’s rapid shift to digitalisation during the pandemic was an incredible display of insight and creativity that has continued to revolutionise working practices for the future. New innovative digital products designed to improve communication and productivity have fuelled a growing tech industry, with the UK even [overtaking China in startup investment](https://uk.news.yahoo.com/uk-tech-overtakes-china-startup-investment-230139246.html) within the first five months of 2022, second only to the US. Accordingly, this has led to a significant increase in [job vacancies that require tech](https://www.financedigest.com/microsoft-to-shed-10000-jobs-adding-to-glut-of-tech-layoffs.html "Microsoft to shed 10,000 jobs, adding to glut of tech layoffs") skills – and not just “advanced” tech skills. According to the DCMS, over [80%](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-digital-strategy-to-make-uk-a-global-tech-superpower#:~:text=Over%20eighty%20per%20cent%20of,a%20year%20in%20potential%20GDP.) of all jobs advertised in the UK now require some form of digital skills. From communicative products such as Slack and Teams to data storage and Cloud technology, [businesses are naturally becoming more demanding where essential skills](https://www.financedigest.com/5-essential-leadership-skills-for-family-owned-businesses.html "5 essential leadership skills for family-owned businesses") are concerned. However, this push toward new working practices has left many employees playing catch up, as the UK’s widening digital [skills gap](https://www.financedigest.com/navigating-the-global-technology-skills-gap-with-ai-moderated-upskilling.html "Navigating the Global Technology Skills Gap with AI-Moderated Upskilling") becomes more pronounced. The [Salesforce’s Global Digital Skills Index](https://www.salesforce.com/uk/company/news-press/press-releases/2022/01/four-in-five-uk-workers-unequipped-for-the-future-of-work/) reports that over three-quarters of the global workforce do not believe they are prepared to function in a digital-first economy. In the UK, this rises to 80%, with 45% of respondents [saying they feel overwhelmed by the pace of technological progress](https://www.financedigest.com/sweden-finland-and-turkey-have-made-progress-on-nato-membership-sweden-says.html "Sweden, Finland and Turkey have made progress on NATO membership, Sweden says"). Certainly, while it is crucial that [gaps in advanced tech](https://www.financedigest.com/how-can-banks-overcome-the-tech-trust-gap.html "How can banks overcome the tech trust gap?") roles, such as cybersecurity and software engineering, are addressed to maintain growth in the tech sector, the health of the digital economy as a whole will require bridging skills gaps in all positions. As such, [employees will need](https://www.financedigest.com/5-key-things-you-need-to-know-before-hiring-your-first-employee.html "5 Key Things You Need to Know Before Hiring Your First Employee") adequate training opportunities in digital support skills. This refers to the effective use of digital products and processes used to improve productivity and efficiency. **The importance of** [digital support skills](https://www.financedigest.com/utilising-digital-tools-to-close-the-finance-and-accounting-skills-gap.html "Utilising digital tools to close the finance and accounting skills gap") Saving time, money, and improving [employee happiness](https://www.financedigest.com/the-commercial-imperative-behind-employee-happiness.html "The commercial imperative behind employee happiness"), efficiency is one of the biggest goals for any business. However, in order to achieve this a workforce [must be proficient in productivity-boosting office technologies used within their operations](https://www.financedigest.com/theres-a-fine-line-between-relinquishing-control-and-accountability-financial-institutions-must-balance-both-to-successfully-cloudify-operations-and-meet-customer-expectations.html "There’s a fine line between relinquishing control and accountability. Financial institutions must balance both to successfully cloudify operations and meet customer expectations"). For instance, tools that reduce and speed up repetitive tasks are crucial for overall output. One study found that [67%](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210520005067/en/New-Study-Finds-Majority-of-Global-Office-Workers-Crushed-by-Repetitive-Tasks-Stifled-From-Pursuing-More-Fulfilling-Work) of workers stated they were spending too many hours each week repeating the same tasks. Yet, within the same group, there was a belief that this could be drastically reduced if their employers installed [automated software](https://www.financedigest.com/guide-to-the-most-affordable-marketing-automation-software.html "Guide To The Most Affordable Marketing Automation Software") programs. Examples of this can be seen among sales professionals using CRM software. While a valuable tool in understanding client trends, the [data entry processes involved can become](https://www.financedigest.com/becoming-data-ready-for-mtd-for-corporation-tax-aligning-vat-and-ct.html "Becoming data-ready for MTD for Corporation Tax: aligning VAT and CT") incredibly repetitive and time-consuming. So, ensuring sales staff can effectively use software, such as [automated processes](https://www.financedigest.com/how-process-automation-increases-productivity-in-the-insurance-sector-while-giving-employees-room-for-more-high-value-activity.html "How Process Automation increases productivity in the insurance sector while giving employees room for more high value activity") and speech recognition technology, to facilitate data transfer from websites to CRM systems is vital for efficiency. Letting the software do the heavy lifting reduces the chance of human error, while also allowing the employee to turn their attention to other core tasks. For [small and medium-sized businesses](https://www.financedigest.com/2021-the-year-of-the-global-workforce-for-british-small-businesses.html "2021: The Year of the Global Workforce for British small businesses "), getting employees up to speed with office technologies is a matter of survival. According to Wordskills UK, [76%](https://www.worldskillsuk.org/news/new-research-highlights-uk-digital-skills-gap/) of businesses believe that a lack of digital skills would hit their profitability, leaving SMEs in a particularly vulnerable position as they are more sensitive to the financial impacts of productivity leaks. The government estimates that the digital skills gap costs the UK economy as much as [£63 billion](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-digital-strategy-to-make-uk-a-global-tech-superpower#:~:text=Over%20eighty%20per%20cent%20of,a%20year%20in%20potential%20GDP.) a year in potential GDP. At the same time, businesses are wasting [37%](https://www.lemonlearning.com/blog/digital-skills-gap) of their software budgets annually by purchasing the incorrect tools or failing to deploy programmes correctly. Clearly, the financial implications are huge. However, this [isn’t an issue that businesses](https://www.financedigest.com/isnt-it-time-open-banking-delivered-for-businesses.html "Isn’t It Time Open Banking Delivered for Businesses?") can recruit themselves out of. Reskilling and upskilling opportunities will be [key for those with decades of their working life ahead](https://www.financedigest.com/sterling-edges-lower-ahead-of-key-data.html "Sterling edges lower ahead of key data") of them. **Training is essential** It would be unfair to assume that all businesses have the [means to sufficiently train their workforce in digital](https://www.financedigest.com/making-sure-that-finservs-digital-transformation-doesnt-mean-digital-exclusion.html "Making sure that FinServ’s digital transformation doesn’t mean digital exclusion") support skills. Perhaps this is achievable for large organisations, but it would be a costly and unrealistic exercise for SMEs. Indeed, the [International Labour Organization](https://www.digitalsme.eu/digital-skills-for-smes-challenges-and-opportunities/) found that in 2021, 70% of large enterprises actively provided training for their staff, while only 23% of SMEs did so, highlighting a lack of available resources among smaller businesses to reskill and upskill staff. Instead, giving workers the opportunities to upskill and reskill in digital software will require a concerted effort involving local government, businesses, and training providers. All [must work together to effectively communicate the value of digital skills and where individuals can go to receive accessible training opportunities](https://www.financedigest.com/the-rise-of-finfluencers-presents-unique-opportunities-but-brands-must-proceed-with-caution.html "The rise of “Finfluencers” presents unique opportunities but brands must proceed with caution"). For example, [The Development Manager](https://thedevelopmentmanager.com/) has partnered with West Midlands Combined Authority to run free digital support bootcamps targeted at individuals looking to become tech-savvy in workplace software and applications. As well as grasping new knowledge of the systems they operate with, learners can gain certification as a [Microsoft Office](https://www.financedigest.com/microsoft-unveils-ai-office-copilot-in-fast-moving-race-with-google.html "Microsoft unveils AI office copilot in fast-moving race with Google") Specialist. Meanwhile, the [transferable skills acquired through reskilling and upskilling programmes can assist](https://www.financedigest.com/aon-assists-freddie-mac-to-reach-5bn-risk-transfer-milestone-for-u-s-mortgage-credit-business.html "AON ASSISTS FREDDIE MAC TO REACH BN RISK TRANSFER MILESTONE FOR U.S. MORTGAGE CREDIT BUSINESS") in boosting social mobility. A better grasp of tech and certificates to match can lead to increase economic inclusion, and positions with a focus on technology usually come with higher earning power, with the average tech salary up to [50%](https://www.techuk.org/resource/guest-blog-bridging-the-digital-skills-gap.html) higher than the average for all vacancies in the UK. A lack of [digitally competent](https://www.financedigest.com/digital-trends-for-banking-leaders-looking-to-compete-in-2022.html "Digital trends for banking leaders looking to compete in 2022") talent among the workforce is alarming – particularly as more products and processes become digitalised. If this is not addressed, [businesses will begin to take a significant hit](https://www.financedigest.com/julius-baer-2022-profits-fall-as-it-hits-business-cycle-targets.html "Julius Baer 2022 profits fall as it hits business cycle targets") in potential productivity; a risk that SMEs cannot take. So, it is important that [businesses work with training providers to give their employees the opportunity to reskill and upskill in digital support](https://www.financedigest.com/fintechs-support-of-ukraines-digital-businesses-can-be-used-as-blueprint-across-the-world.html "Fintech’s support of Ukraine’s digital businesses can be used as blueprint across the world") skills, allowing them to keep up with new valuable office technologies and, in turn, maintaining a strong digital economy. **_About Author:_** _Derrin Kent is Managing Director at_ [_The Development Manager_](https://thedevelopmentmanager.com/) _, a UK-based organisation that coaches and trains employees to develop tech and digital skills in order to address the workforce productivity gap._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---