Employers need to unlock the digital skills of the next generation, urges O2’s HR director
Last week, the CBI revealed that 39 per cent of firms – particularly in the tech industry – are struggling to find young workers with the right skills, and this at a time when there are over one million young people unemployed in the UK. Having grown up with the internet, these young people are precisely the ones with the inherent digital skills we need to capitalise on the digital economy.
Our own research has shown that the unused digital skills sitting within this community of unemployed young people is valued by UK businesses at £6.7 billion. The same study highlighted that businesses are in vital need of the digital skills held by this generation, including web design, coding and social media expertise. This, coupled with the fact that businesses expect a fifth (21 per cent) of their growth over the next three years to come through digital channels, shows that these young people really do hold the key to our economic recovery. And yet, as it stands, businesses are failing to make the most of them.
The reality of the digital world is that technology is constantly evolving, meaning that nurturing digital skills is even more important. The roll-out of 4G this year is a great example of the pace of change – it will open up new opportunities for businesses and individuals alike, and it’s therefore vital that the next generation’s workforce is fit for the job.
So what do we need to do to close the skills gap? I believe it’s up to businesses themselves to take action to upskill the next generation and ensure that they’re offering the right opportunities to help young people transition into the workplace. There are various ways businesses can do this, even from an early stage. This could mean going into local schools to offer careers advice to students who are starting to think about their futures, providing quality work experience, internships, apprenticeships and graduate programmes, or even simply giving advice on what to wear to that all-important first interview.
I’m lucky enough to watch these young recruits progress through our business, as well as seeing the value they can bring. Just last year, one young man in particular started with us as a retail intern and showed such enthusiasm and potential that now, just sixths months on, he is working as an outreach and social media manager for Telefónica Digital. He’s been able to apply his existing social media skills to his new role with great success.
I also feel passionately that the tech industry has a responsibility to showcase the opportunities within the industry that are available to young women. Our recent global Millennials survey, which spoke to over 12,000 young people worldwide, revealed a worrying gender divide. While young men were convinced that technology would help them with their future careers, young women felt much less confident, viewing the tech world as more of a ‘boys club’. This needs to change, and it’s up to us to make sure that young women - starting right from school level - don’t feel excluded.
All businesses, big and small, have a part to play in unlocking the potential of these young people, both male and female, regardless of sector. Only by doing so will we be able to unlock the talent of the next generation and tap into the full growth possibilities of the emerging digital economy.