We’re living in the digital age. More consumers are turning online and more businesses are investing in forward-thinking technology, too. This means your employees need to up their digital game so businesses like yours can continue to succeed.

Research has found that more than 82% of middle-skill jobs require digital skills, a 4% increase since 2014. So, it’s crucial to upskill your employees to supercharge your marketing — and offering training is the perfect opportunity to make it happen.

This article will advise preparing your workforce for a more digital world through internal upskilling, which you can promote through training.

 

 

The importance of upskilling

It’s believed that only 61% of the working age population in the UK has digital skills. This leaves a massive gap between those equipped for the digital era and those who aren’t.

That’s a problem. But one of the most effective ways to overcome it is through upskilling. Offering upskilling courses allows your team to perfect their current skills and learn new ones, too.
From there, you can identify the strengths and weaknesses of your team and put a plan in place that ensures they have dedicated time to improve specific areas of their job role so they can leave a bigger impact.

There are various ways you can build a robust upskilling training programme in your business. However, to ensure you gain buy-in from leadership and the rest of your team, you should always develop a strategic plan.
Sure, some methods can be done internally, but working with a training partner that can provide a comprehensive training plan is the most effective avenue many businesses tend to go down.

 

How you can upskill for digital transformation

COVID-19 has drastically accelerated digital business models. More businesses are investing time and money into upskilling their workforce so they’re prepared to take on digital transformation projects.

Over 70% of organisations have a digital transformation strategy and one of the critical components of making it a success is by providing digital upskilling training.

There’s a lot to consider when it comes to upskilling for digital transformation. Learning about new technologies is essential. However, one of the most important factors is being able to change people's mindsets so you can strengthen the innovative and collaborative culture of your business.

You must strike the right balance between people and technology for upskilling for digital transformation. This means you must shape your learning content to suit your employees.
Make sure you offer a range of initiatives within your digital upskilling training. While you need to spend time getting into the nitty-gritty of new technologies, how they work and why they’re so effective — always offer practical opportunities too.

Working with an experienced provider will allow this to happen. They’ll offer a wide range of training methods to keep your workforce engaged and fully prepared to continue passing on their skills and knowledge when they return to your office.

 

The benefits of internal upskilling

Upskilling your staff is a great way to improve staff satisfaction and retention. It shows your employees that you care about their progression and want them to be a part of your business’ growth plans.

In 2020, PwC conducted a research report that looked into businesses providing more advanced upskilling programmes and how it benefited them. Some of the findings included:

  • 60% stronger corporate culture and employee engagement
  • 51% greater innovation and accelerated digital transformation
  • 45% improved talent acquisition and retention
  • 43% higher workforce productivity


More skilled workers better understand your customers' needs, too. This means they’ll set high standards and devise initiatives to improve satisfaction. They’ll work together to transform your service offering and try new technologies to make it happen.

Upskilling helps keep your team up to date on relevant industry trends, insights and recommendations. All of these are part and parcel of providing value to the customer experience.

Above all, one of the biggest benefits of internal upskilling is that your business will quickly start to build a culture of learning. Your employees will feel inspired to take on new challenges and always find solutions instead of problems.

They’ll be well-equipped to handle change. Whether it’s taking on new projects or spending time out of work to learn about a new platform, you can rest assured that your team will have the confidence and know-how to go and do it.

 

A training partner that can make a difference

We understand that the prospect of taking on an upskilling project can be pretty daunting. You want to be sure you’re covering all the right aspects and that your team will be engaged from start to finish.

That’s where working with a training partner can make a real difference. They’ll have years of experience under their belt and a passion for delivering only the highest quality of professional learning so that your whole workforce feels inspired.

To learn more about Ascento, what we can offer your business and our range of digital marketing courses, download a copy of our digital marketing brochure below.

Digital Marketing Programme

Oliver Simpson

Written by Oliver Simpson