This document discusses the benefits to employers of upskilling their existing workforce. It notes that upskilling is vital for businesses to remain competitive and secure their future as skills shortages threaten growth. Some key benefits outlined include having more motivated, productive and loyal employees; increased competitiveness as staff have the latest skills; higher staff retention as employees feel valued; and reduced costs through improved efficiency. The document argues that the return on investment from upskilling through these benefits often outweighs the risks of staff potentially leaving after training.

1. Benefits to an
employer of up-
skilling an
existing
workforce
- Jason Blackwell

2. Presented to
April 2015
Jagdip Sanghera Abigail Smith Stevie Wray-Marriott

3. Skills shortages are a
key threat to the future
growth of UK
businesses.

4. Skills shortages are a
key threat to the future
growth of UK
businesses.
Up-skilling the existing
workforce is vital for
securing a businesses
future and ensuring it
remains competitive.

5. Why should an
organisation
invest in up-
skilling its
existing
employees?

6. Motivated Staff
Investing in your employees’ training and
development helps to make them feel valued. In
return they tend to be more motivated and loyal.
Happy employees make a more efficient
workforce and are more likely to go the extra
mile for your business.

7. Increased Productivity
If your employees are well trained
they'll be more productive, leading to
increased efficiency and higher
profits. The investment you make in
their training and development may
be small in comparison to the
increase in revenue this could
facilitate.

8. Increased Competitiveness
Businesses must have up-to-date skills to
remain competitive. Training and
development ensures that staff have the
latest industry skills.

9. Staff Retention
If your employees feel valued they are
more likely to stay at your company.
By investing in their development
you're showing them you think they
have the potential to grow with your
business. It is always important to
retain your talented personnel.

10. Recruitment
Staff development plans help attract the
best staff to your organisation. A visible
demonstration of how prepared you are to
invest in an individual for their future
success will be a key point in attracting
top talent to your company.

11. Durable Skills Base
Up-skilling existing staff can also help
to fill gaps in your organisation.
Training and development can help
you redeploy staff to different areas of
the business and to recruit from within
your existing workforce for more
senior positions.

12. Higher Quality of Work
Up-skilled employees backed by
supporting staff who are equally as skilled
in their respective areas of expertise have
all the tools to do their job ensuring their
quality of work is of the highest possible
excellence.

13. Risk Management and Safet
Skilled staff help create a safer
working environment and reduce the
risk of accidents. Having skilled and
motivated employees also mitigate
risks in potentially litigious areas such
as sexual harassment and diversity.

14. Reduced need for supervision
Competent employees require less
management and supervision when
carrying out day to day tasks. This means
management can get on with more
pressing tasks and leave employees to it.

15. Two Huge
Benefits
from up-
skilling
employees

16. Reduced Costs
Organisations find costs are reduced by
improved productivity, reduced
recruitment overheads, access to
government funding and lower wastage.

17. Positive Return on Investme
Up-skilling and motivating staff
improves efficiency and productivity,
reduces recruitment costs and helps
businesses minimise waste. All this
helps an organisation increase its
profit margins.

18. Myths about up-skilling existing employee

19. mployers fear that any investment in up-skilling
l be lost when staff depart.
The good news is that the majority of
employees who are seeking training and
development are motivated by a desire to
stay with their current employer.

20. “What happens if we invest in
developing our employees and they
decide to leave us?”
“What happens if we don't, and they
stay?”

21. -skilled staff – the final piece of the jigsaw!