Reskilling, the Future of Work (join us next week)...

Next week, Ufi VocTech Trust hosts its annual Week of VocTech , working in collaboration with the RSA, Association of Colleges, Association of Learning Technologies and more. The #WeekOfVocTech is a free programme of online events to explore the role of digital technology in training and to celebrate its impact on learners, employers, training providers and society as a whole.

This event comes at a critical time when reskilling is gaining traction as the feasible solution to closing the acute skills gap. (The cycle of redundancies and recruiting is not only too slow and costly for employers, but there is not a sufficient pool of aptly skilled employees to then draw on). Not only is reskilling beneficial to the employee and employer, but closing the global?skills gap?could add US$11.5 trillion to global GDP by 2028 (WE Forum).

So, how can technology help expedite the transition in skills economies in a way that is sensitive to employee circumstances and motivation? ?

This is one of the questions I'm most excited about finding out more about next week by listening to people who are really doing all this. (The events are all free, online, interactive, and you can register here by the way).

For example, Dr. Andrea Cullen, Lead Tutor & Co-founder,?at CAPSLOCK ?– Capslock are an online cyber security professional training programme, where you don’t pay a penny until you get hired. Created by University Cyber lecturers who wanted to provide something better and more accessible, they are currently re-training Taxi-drivers, Dancers, and Stay-at-home Dad’s in the world of cyber to fill the skills gap in names like the BBC. Capslock are also working with employees to help reskill existing employees into Cyber. (Andrea is a guest on the VocTech Podcast LIVE which takes place on Monday 15th November at 11am. You can watch LIVE here , or subscribe and listen back here ).

Who else?

What about Elizabeth Lawal, Program Manager, INCO Academy UK - INCO Academy UK runs a Work In Tech training program supported by Google.org with the aim of providing young people across the country fair access to their IT careers. Their training program aims to improve, improve and unleash the opportunity to empower individuals facing access barriers as they enter the labour market. (Elizabeth is on a breakout session on Assessment, which I'll be moderating, and where you can ask questions direct, which takes place on Wednesday 17th November following the showcase at 10am. You can register here .)

Also speaking are:

• Chris Mallet, Co-founder & CEO,?BodySwaps - on using simulation technology to truly develop empathetic soft skills, especially at a time when our in-person skills are being challenged by lack of practice! (Future of Work breakout)
• Don Taylor, Chair of the Learning Technologies Conference and Network Chair at Emerge Education - what examples of reskilling programmes are taking root within L&D, and what insights do Don's latest surveys tell us about what employers want from Learning Technologies? (Future of Work breakout).
• Kola Ayonrinde, Data Anlyst,?Beam - how can technology help provide transparency and trust to all stakeholders? (Data & Ethics breakout).
• Andy Turbefield, Head of Quality,?Halfords Autocentres - inclusive design across employers and what that means for learning solutions. (Inclusion breakout)
• Diane Morgan, Director of Talent,?Zinc VC ?– how to bring together the brightest minds to build and scale a brand new way to solve the most important societal problems faced by the developed world. (VocTech Podcast LIVE)
• Julia Tyson, Chief Human Resources Officer, Lloyds; and Trustee, Ufi VocTech Trust - what this all looks like from the employer perspective. (Future of Work breakout).
• And, many more...

These sessions are a great opportunity to share your work, connect and ask questions so we can all learn from one another. (Ufi VocTech Trust have a great alumni network to learn from). You can have a dig around in the sessions and register here > https://weekofvoctech.co.uk/events

I hope to field your question on Monday or Wednesday during one of the sessions I'm involved in!