In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, understanding how to upskill employees is critical. For businesses to thrive and individuals to succeed, continuous learning and development are paramount. At Damar Training, our employer partners upskill their current staff members in order to improve employee engagement, increase productivity and grow their business.
But why is upskilling employees so important, and what methods can be used? In this blog, we’ll take you through some upskilling tips, equipping you with the tools you need to cultivate a culture of continuous growth.
What is upskilling?
First of all, let’s explore what upskilling actually is so that you can put it into practice. Upskilling refers to a person learning new skills to enhance performance in their current role. For example, a new line manager might take on a management apprenticeship to help them upskill their supervisory and leadership abilities.
Reskilling is a related term and refers to someone gaining the skills and knowledge needed to move into a new position or industry. Most companies will often use a combination of upskilling and reskilling to meet their needs and help their employees grow and develop.
- Upskilling involves employees learning new skills to enhance their current role performance, while reskilling prepares them for new positions within the organisation. Both are crucial for adapting to rapidly changing skill requirements and technological advancements.
How to upskill employees
If you approach upskilling purposefully and methodically, then you will see significant gains in your workforce productivity. And, with rising recruitment costs and increased instability, there’s never been a better time to invest in your employees. In fact, research shows that 94% of employees would stay at a company longer if it invested in their career.
Kat Shawcross, divisional manager of business development at Damar Training, said:
“When considering upskilling options, it’s important that employers conduct a skills audit to understand what skills gaps currently exist. Talking to employees is also important to identify their own perceptions of areas for development, as well as career aspirations.”
Let’s take a look at some ways you can support upskilling:
- Embrace apprenticeships
Apprenticeships combine professional training with on-the-job learning and are available in a wide variety of areas such as accounting and travel consultant apprenticeships. Apprenticeships are suitable for employees of any age (16+), and range from level 2 to higher apprenticeships at level 5 and beyond.
Here at Damar, we’re passionate about supporting employers with apprenticeship training. They are a cost-effective way to upskill your staff and you can be sure that your employees are not just learning the correct knowledge, skills and behaviours, but are applying them within their role, to add lasting value to your business.
- Incorporate on-the-job opportunities
On-the-job opportunities can offer a diverse learning experience for your employees by allowing them to learn in a real-world setting. Examples include:
- Shadowing colleagues
- Working on relevant projects or assignments
- Taking on temporary roles within the organisation.
On-the-job training is an important component of apprenticeships but can also be offered independently. This type of upskilling not only enhances employees’ technical skills but also improves soft skills such as communication, time management and adaptability. By providing these opportunities, you’re enabling your employees to learn by gaining valuable hands-on experience that they can apply in their regular job role.
- Develop mentorship programmes
Another valuable way to upskill employees is through mentorship. Mentees can receive help navigating their career and developing new skillsets, while the mentor can learn fresh perspectives. Mentorship programmes tend to increase employer satisfaction and engagement, which can translate into a more productive workforce.
Mentorship programmes can also have a positive impact on succession planning. Employers with greater institutional and industry knowledge can become excellent candidates to move into key senior positions later in their careers.
- Set aside learning time and schedules
While this may seem obvious, dedicating and scheduling time for training and upskilling is important. In fact, one of the main reasons that employees may not engage in upskilling opportunities is a lack of time. To combat this, it’s important to set aside dedicated learning time during work hours and incorporate training schedules into employees’ calendars.
Additionally, it might be a good idea to implement more flexible options. This can include online or self-paced courses that can be completed outside of working hours if needed. This will ensure that all of your employees have access to learning opportunities regardless of their schedule constraints.
- Create a culture of continuous learning
At Damar, we believe in a culture of continuous learning, creating a curious and empowering environment allows employees to ask questions, explore new ideas, and consistently learn. By giving your employees access to learning resources, creating opportunities for feedback, and embracing a growth mindset, you’re enabling individuals within your team to visualise their career path and develop the skills needed to achieve their goals.
- Measure and track progress
And finally, it’s crucial to measure the success of upskilling programmes and to track progress over time. This not only allows you to determine the return on investment but also helps to identify areas for improvement and to make any necessary adjustments. Regular evaluations, meetings, and feedback from your employees can also provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of your upskilling initiatives.
What are the benefits of upskilling employees?
There are many benefits to upskilling your staff. Some of them include:
- Boosted employee engagement and retention: Investing in your team’s growth shows how much you value them, leading to increased loyalty
- Increased productivity and efficiency: Upskilled employees can work more effectively, make less errors and find solutions faster
- Enhanced customer service: Employees with up-to-date skills can provide better service, leading to higher customer satisfaction rates
- Improved bottom line: Upskilling can directly contribute to healthier financial performance
- A stronger competitive edge: In rapidly evolving markets, upskilling your team gives them the skills your business needs to stay ahead of the curve.
Upskill your employees with the help of Damar Training
Hopefully, this blog has taught you all you need to know about how to upskill employees.
At Damar, our apprenticeships combine various approaches to upskilling – on-the-job learning, off-the-job training and supervision/mentorship – in one comprehensive package. They enable skill development with practical workplace application, creating value that extends far beyond individual employee improvement to encompass organisational capability, culture, and competitive advantage.