Skills Gap in UK – Asking for help still stigmatized

There is still a stigma around asking for help to develop skills in the workplace, according to National Consortium of Colleges and Providers (NCCP) chairman Harvey Young.Young is spearheading the campaign For Business, For Life in an attempt to secure £50 million worth of training from the EU’s European Social fund. The UK government has pledged to match the funding offered for each learner.

Young told HR magazine the campaign is designed in part to remove the “stigma” of employees admitting at work that they need help with literacy and numeracy.

“It’s particularly pronounced with literacy,” he said. “Ways that it’s possible to reduce this include embedding the teaching of literacy skills into wider workplace learning programmes. That way staff members don’t have to be seen asking specifically for help in this area.”

via HR Magazine – Workplace stigma prevails over English and maths skills.