Skills gap is costing UK business £4.4bn each year The £4.4bn bill from the UK skills gap The UK’s skills shortage is having a significant impact on many employers’ productivity and competitiveness. In fact, the impact on productivity is so severe that the government has put addressing the skills shortage front and centre in its industrial strategy. For most businesses, buying skills in seems the easiest way to tackle shortages, but this [...]
DEBATE: In light of its limited success so far, should the apprenticeship levy be scrapped? In light of its limited success so far, should the apprenticeship levy be scrapped? Charlie Mullins, chief executive and founder of Pimlico Plumbers, says YES. The purpose of the apprenticeship levy was to increase the number of new apprentices, in a genuine effort to combat the UK’s skills gap. However it has proven an unmitigated disaster, [...]