Business
Scheme aims to give teenagers real knowledge of a trade
The head of executive resourcing at Vodafone’s Newbury head-quarters, Andy Hill (pictured), tells Newbury Business Today why he is backing the Diploma, the Government’s new qualification for ages 14 to 19
IT IS no secret that the UK is facing a skills shortage and that young people are currently entering employ-ment without the knowledge, skills and attitudes that support competitiveness.
Just typing ‘UK skills shortage’ into an online search engine provides you with reams of articles and websites devoted to this topic and the doom and gloom our country’s economy will face if the issue is not addressed.
Let’s look at Berkshire. According to the last National Employer Skills Survey, about 19 per cent of the organisations surveyed in Berkshire had vacancies and about 45 per cent of recruiting companies stated that they were having difficulty filling these roles.
A shortage of the right skills is one of the reasons for this deficit. I believe the Diploma can help address this, changing the region’s – and the country’s – workforce for the better.
So, how can this be achieved? What is the Diploma and what makes it different to everything that has gone before?
The Diploma is different from existing qualifications as it bridges the gap between theoretical learning in the classroom and the practical, hands-on experience that is so important if we are to give young people the skills to succeed in the workplace.
It has been designed in consultation with employers, and businesses can also get involved in its delivery – for example, by hosting workplace visits, offering work experience placements or providing real-life case studies for young people to use in their project work.
The qualification will include a strong emphasis on core skills in English, maths and ICT, as well as project work to develop independent thinking.
There are three levels of Diploma – foundation, higher and advanced – that can be taken at different stages in a young person’s education and the qualification will be available in a selection of schools across the country from September.
Each level will provide an entry route to employment (including apprenticeships), further and higher education, or professional training schemes.
By 2011, subjects will range from information technology and hospitality to languages and creative media.
It is this mix of essential skills and work-relevant knowledge that will help change the face of the workforce in this area.
Employers can be confident that, if they employ a Diploma graduate, this person will be competent with regards to literacy and numeracy, they will have relevant practical experience, and they will have the aptitude and self-motivation to add real value.
I am confident that the Diploma will provide me and other employers with recruits who have a fully-rounded education and the right attitude and skills to help boost the economy in Newbury and beyond.
I look forward to Dip-loma students joining Vodafone and am excited to see the contribution they will make to the company’s workforce. I hope other employers will join me in my enthusiasm.
Andy Hill is a member of the Diploma Employer Champions Network. For more information about the Diploma and details of how to get involved, visit www. businesslink.gov.uk/diplomas
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