There’s growing evidence the skills gap is widening as staff are forced to work remotely from home, so UK employee benefits and outsourced payroll provider HIVE360 has launched a training and development platform on its employee digital health and wellbeing app, Engage to support workforce development, as the company’s CEO David McCormack explains.
HIVE360 has forged a partnership with online learning solutions provider The Skills Network, and added a training and development platform to our digital health and wellbeing app.
Under the partnership, employers using the Engage app can give their employees free access to over 40 CPD and accredited online training courses that support workforce development and help employees expand their skillsets.
Now more than ever, continuous skills development and improving employability is a big priority for employers. Workplace training has hit its lowest level in a decade, and fewer than two-thirds of employers offer training to staff.
Statistics from recent research confirm the huge impact that COVID and lockdown are having on worker development, training and skills – for instance, the latest Open University Business Barometer reports that over half of UK companies are reporting skills shortages, whilst another study reveals 1.25 million UK employees are considered not ‘fully proficient at their jobs’ by their employer,* with building critical skills in their organisation being the number one priority for HR leaders next year, according to research released this month by Gartner Inc.
The need and appetite for accessible skills training is clear, so developing a comprehensive training function for our employee digital health and wellbeing app, Engage, and making it available as quickly as possible, was a no-brainer.
‘My Training’ gives workers the opportunity to complete a range of online, certified courses wherever they are, at their own pace, and, importantly, at no charge to them. Businesses can choose to highlight and drive participation in specific courses, or simply offer the resource as a benefit to their workforce.
It is clear that training needs to be made easily available and accessible to UK workers, for it to work efficiently and effectively in today’s way of working. Remote and home-working and different working patterns reduce the opportunities for companies to deliver training face-to-face and support their employees with their ongoing professional development.
My Training enables employers to offer workers a complete a range of online, certified courses, and is another way for them to engage their workforce, and in turn boost productivity, cement loyalty and attract and retain talent that is right for their company.
HIVE360’s mobile, customisable engagement app and platform gives employees access to a range of benefits and services. As well as the new training courses, it features a personal doctor, personal support helpline and care support, gym memberships, high-street, lifestyle, dining and insurance discounts, along with access to their digital payslips and a real-time workplace pension dashboard.
