The COVID-19 situation has made the skills and training industry rethink its strategy. Many providers have a weighting towards face-to-face training, but travel restrictions and social distancing are limiting what can be done offline. This has led to interruption across learning programmes and disruptions in assessment for certifications and qualifications.
New skills and training delivery models
As a result, we have seen business owners and organisations in the sector making significant changes to their delivery models, focussed towards elearning and virtual training. However, with many global corporates and employers scrutinising their people spend and associated training budgets, ensuring the learner is still at the heart of continued training and content remains fit for purpose, has become extremely difficult.
The government has launched a range of initiatives to support businesses through the current circumstances. This is particularly the case with any apprenticeship training provider waiting on tenterhooks on an announcement from the DfE and ESFA that there will be some provider support coming. Current policy states that funding for apprenticeships is to be claimed retrospectively on completion of training, which is obviously much more difficult to complete in the current circumstances. The long-term impact of this could be significant for the sector, as the economy has been reminded that apprentices are employees, and therefore, simply pausing learning or moving online is not always viable.
The importance of skills and training
Interestingly, the situation has highlighted the importance of learning within corporates. Well-being and motivation is being tested with remote working and having digital learning capability is no longer optional. We believe that the unprecedented economic impact will only act as a long-term accelerator for growth across the industry, with the upskilling of the global workforce a priority. Traditional training providers will be leaning on elearning businesses to accelerate their digital offering to maintain delivery.
Extraordinary changes
Lee Findell, Director for WA Comms, explains “the COVID-19 pandemic has seen extraordinary changes to the way we live. Not least amongst these is the return of ‘big government’. While this may ultimately prove to be a temporary measure, there is an opportunity for businesses in the skills and training sector to make the case not only for what support your business needs now, but what role you can play in helping the country recover as we move back towards some semblance of normality.
"The government is in listening mode, and now is the time to plan, communicate and lobby on how your business will be able to support the recovery in providing innovative solutions, as the government looks to understand which industries and skills it will need to back in the new world that will emerge out of this pandemic,” he continues.
The new normal
Ultimately, with an immediate impact on activity in the skills and training market, business owners need to perform scenario planning to stress-test their business. This could cover periods into early 2021, particularly where apprenticeship starts, or corporate training programmes are being delayed. Businesses may have to work closely with lenders and use one or more of the government initiatives available, such as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) and the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS). The first draw-downs are expected in early May, however, there are other self-help measures business leaders should be exploring in advance of this.
