Tackling the Digital Skills shortage in England: Could Skills Bootcamps solve the digital skills gap?
British businesses are struggling to implement the latest technologies and processes necessary for smart manufacturing due to a lack of appropriately skilled workers. The 2022 British Chambers of Commerce survey of 5600 firms, found that while around 66% of firms wanted to hire people, 80% said finding skilled and unskilled workers was difficult. This skills shortage undermines the ability of businesses to adopt new technologies and processes, threatening the UK’s opportunity to unlock the potential innovation and growth benefits offered by industry 4.0.
The problem is worse in lagging regions or ‘left-behind’ places which are stuck in low-wage low-skill traps. In this situation there is both low demand for and low supply of the appropriate skills needed by businesses. The problem is self-perpetuating as skilled workers and firms relocate to more successful regions where they can meet their needs. Unless this trend is challenged, the large skills imbalances and regional inequalities that have inspired levelling-up rhetoric will continue to worsen.
One attempt to solve this shortage in England has been the 2020 launch of government funded training scheme, ‘Skills Bootcamps’. These short, flexible courses which run for up to 16 weeks, are co-designed with employers and are available for free to anyone over 19 regardless of previous qualifications. While courses offered cover a range of skills, over 972 courses relate to digital skills. One key feature of the initiative is the promise of a guaranteed job interview upon completion of the course. But perhaps more novel is the fact that, in some places this initiative will be delivered not by the national government but by the combined authorities (CAs).
CAs were introduced as part of efforts to devolve powers and responsibilities from the central government to regions. The first established in 2011 was the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), although there have since been 9 other CAs established across England. Both Manchester’s Mayor Andy Burnham and Birmingham’s Mayor Andy Street have become leading voices among the CA mayors calling for greater devolution of powers to the CAs. While CAs have very limited power, all but the North East have recently been given control over their adult education budgets.
This means that CAs will have control over the courses funded and the providers of courses aimed at individuals 18+ in their local areas. The logic behind this being, that local policymakers will be more in touch with what their local area needs, not least the skills local firms are calling out for. When it comes to the delivery of Skill Bootcamps, CAs will be integral to shaping this initiative to meet the needs of their local area.
However, given the limited funding local government has experienced since the coalition-led austerity cuts in the early 2010s, many combined authorities may struggle to have the capacity to shape Skills Bootcamps to meet their local needs. While Greater Manchester and Birmingham have been heralded as successes, the path for other CAs has been much rockier. Whether those like Cambridge and Peterborough Combined Authority, which have struggled with staff retention, will have anyone to assess local demands and to interact with local stakeholders is dubious. Without support, it is likely these flagging CAs will not be as able to help resolve skill shortages within their area.
While Skills Bootcamps have the potential to start helping local areas tailor training initiatives to meet local need, the practicalities of that must be understood. Lagging regions are not all equal and understanding the differences will be integral to understanding how those struggling must change. Otherwise, Skills Bootcamps may simply continue a pattern of winners and losers that has characterised the UK economy.
Author’s profile
Laura Smyth is a part-time researcher and PhD student working for the Centre for People-led Digitalisation and based at the University of Bath. The Centre for People-led Digitalisation is dedicated to creating a needs-driven processes to support industry in realising the potential of a people-led approach to digitalisation.
Laura’s research is focused on examining adult (digital) skills policy designed and implemented within England since 1997. This includes analysis of historic and contemporary skills polices and initiatives available across England and exploration of the factors that have affected skills policy outcomes across regions.
If you would like to know more about this research, please email p-ld@bath.ac.uk.
