Employer Tuesday: Why Training is Essential, Not Optional

As part of National Apprenticeship Week 2025, Employer Tuesday is about celebrating and supporting the organisations that help shape the workforce of the future. The recent Skills England report, Driving Growth and Widening Opportunities, highlights critical challenges in the UK skills landscape and outlines how businesses can thrive by investing in targeted training.

The Changing Workforce and Rising Skills Gaps

The Skills England report reveals that businesses face an evolving set of challenges:

• Demographics: An ageing workforce is creating significant knowledge gaps, making it harder for businesses to keep key expertise.
• Technology: The growing need for STEM-related professionals is increasing competition for skilled workers.
• The Green Economy: Green-related jobs are on the rise, often requiring higher levels of skill and education.

Despite these challenges, investment in training across the UK has declined. Since 2010, the UK has seen a 5% drop in training expenditure, while competing economies in Europe have increased their investment. This has contributed to the skills mismatch that many employers now face, with a notable shortage in essential areas such as leadership, project management, and digital skills.

Leadership and management are among the most critical gaps named, with 44% of skills-driven vacancies identifying these as priority areas. Many businesses rely on “accidental managers”—individuals promoted for their technical ability but without formal training—leading to inconsistent performance and inefficiencies.

Real-World Impact: Building Business Success

Apprenticeships offer a unique way to address these skills gaps while delivering tangible business benefits. Take Nick Brooke from Jungheinrich, for example. Enrolled in the Team Leader programme, Nick quickly began applying what he was learning to improve day-to-day operations and align his management approach with the company’s leadership model. His manager, Alan Power, recognised the immediate value:

“Nick has learnt a lot about himself and various management techniques. His monthly learning is applied in real-time, introducing new ways of thinking aligned with our leadership model. This has had a significant impact on his team and training responsibilities.”

Nick developed enhanced project management skills, improved communication strategies, and gained confidence in leading teams and managing change. His ability to implement innovative management practices contributed to more efficient operations and higher team performance at Jungheinrich.

Victoria Burston, UK L&D, explains the strategic benefits apprenticeships bring to organisations:

“Progressing into a programme of this nature allows for externally benchmarked, CMI-accredited techniques to be injected into our business in real time. Learning and implementation happen simultaneously, which keeps our leadership styles current and ensures we’re always improving.”

Upskilling existing staff who already understand an organisation’s culture and operations offers a cost-effective, sustainable way to develop future leaders. It not only reduces the risks of hiring externally but also ensures your business keeps key talent while staying competitive in a fast-changing economy.

The Skills England report makes it clear: the future success of UK businesses depends on their ability to adapt and invest in skills development. The right training can boost productivity, increase innovation, and create efficient, long-lasting organisations.

At Intec, we’re passionate about helping businesses overcome these challenges. Programmes like Team Leader, Operations Manager, and Improvement Practitioner are designed to meet the needs of today’s employers, equipping professionals with the practical skills they need to bring forth real change.

Disover High-Impact People Development

National Apprenticeship Week is the perfect time to explore how apprenticeships can help your business thrive. Whether you’re looking to build a pipeline of future leaders, address key skills gaps, or boost your organisation’s performance, we’re here to help.

Contact us today to discover how apprenticeships can support your business.

Data Source: Skills England: driving growth and widening opportunities (publishing.service.gov.uk) and Intec’s learner impact survey.