UK employers give their views on the workplace of the future
Futurologists and policymakers are united in telling us that Britain needs to do more to develop the skills of its workers if it is to compete in world markets.
And with the uncertain economic future surrounding Brexit and its implications for recruiting European workers, that need is greater than ever.
Coupled with that are the huge changes affecting the way we work, with more automation, artificial intelligence and the changing expectations of a new generation – all of which mean the workplace of the future is likely to be very different to what we are used to.
But what do some of the best employers in Wales think? Moneypenny What does the company do: Telephone answering, outsourced switchboard and customer service solutions Head office: Wrexham Total staff: 595 Wales: 550 Overseas: 45 Turnover: £25m Do you have any graduate/ apprenticeship programmes?
Co-founder and director Rachel Clacher said: “We don’t run a graduate programme – we recruit on attitude and as such employ people from a variety of different backgrounds. But we do invest heavily in the training of our staff. And we have just taken on our very first apprentice in our Finance department.
“We also run a traineeship from the charitable arm of Moneypenny, WeMindTheGap. Through this, we provide six-month paid traineeships for young under-served people in our local community, giving them new choices in life and work.
“Our approach has proven so successful, with seven out of 10 of our trainees moving into full-time work or employment, that we are now expanding to also deliver traineeships in Flintshire and Liverpool.”
What one thing should be done by government to improve the quality of skills in the workplace?
“The majority of today’s schoolleavers will end up in jobs that don’t yet exist. They will need to be resilient, flexible, confident and motivated to be able to grasp the opportunities that the changing job market will offer.
“The challenge for the Government [Welsh and UK] is to accept that, while we don’t know exactly what the future of work will look like, we can focus on developing the confidence and capabilities of our future workforce. We all need to be more responsive and agile and to move quickly to answer the opportunities that are there. For example, there could be a worldwide shortfall of 1.5 million jobs in the cyber security sector by 2019.
“And yet we continue to speak to our young people about the careers and skills that will be obsolete in that brave new future, that in fact is just around the corner. Government needs to wake up and move fast.”
How do you see the workplace of 2050?
“[It] is a very long way away. My fundamental belief is that we, as humans, thrive on real interaction, and that without it we wither.
“I wonder if workplaces will become social hubs. We spend our time in our own spaces doing the majority of our work remotely and digitally, and then come together to discuss and debate.
“Speech recognition will become much more prevalent, so I wonder if real conversations with real human beings will become the gold standard for business and leisure.
“One thing that we do know is that our people will become even more important. Conventional roles will become compromised by the advancement of artificial intelligence, but this means that the people that we do employ will be brilliant, capable and fabulous at delivering the warmth and relationships that no amount of AI can replicate.”
Panasonic Manufacturing UK (PMUK)
What does the company do: Electronic product manufacturer and solutions provider
Head office: Cardiff since 1974 Total staff: 443 Overseas: Panasonic Corporation globally comprises almost 500 companies with more than 254,000 employees Turnover: £244m Do you have any graduate/ apprenticeship recruitment programmes?
Conrad McDonogh, HR director at Panasonic Manufacturing UK, said: “PMUK currently have three individuals on our graduate scheme. We offer graduate programmes to talented individuals who have recently graduated and who demonstrated drive and an eagerness to learn during the recruitment and selection process.
“PMUK currently have two individuals on our apprenticeship scheme. Students are typically offered a three to four-year apprenticeship programme consisting of a funded two-year Btec course followed by a two-year HNC.
“Throughout the apprenticeship programme the apprentice gains a salary whilst attending college on day release, as well as completing an NVQ relative to the type of apprenticeship. In addition the company supports the apprentice through a combination of structured training, informal on-the-job learning, regular check-ins and experienced coaching.”
What one thing should be done by government to improve the quality of skills in the workplace?
“While we have been fortunate enough to receive funding through the Welsh Government for a number of our employees over the previous years, it would be beneficial if the prerequisites for funding be more closely linked to the needs of the business going forward rather than what level the employee may have previously achieved or indeed their age.
“The widening of such criteria could mean that the quality of the skills in the workplace become much more closely linked with the business strategy, fostering growth and productivity, avoiding the current situation whereby funding is heavily biased to management and leadership themes, which is not always appropriate or required.”
How do you see the workplace of 2050?
“The rapid pace in technology and the effect of the internet of things (IoT) will enable the workplace to become smarter and faster, jobs will require people to be adaptable, manage change and work in a much more multi-dimensional manner.
“The nature of the employment contract is likely to become more flexible, replacing traditional hierarchical structures with fluid networks stretching across global borders and supporting the need for mobile working.
“Training and re-skilling will be the key to embracing such developments. There is a wide debate over the impact of automation and concern that technology will eventually replace jobs and ‘leave behind’ those who are unable to train or change their skill set.” Oil4Wales What does the company do? Oil 4 Wales is an independent fuel supplier.
Head office: Carmarthen
Total staff: 80 Regionally: Seven regional depots in Cardiff, Carmarthen, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Powys, Felinfach, Brecon, and Milford Haven
Turnover: £120m in the most recent financial year
Do you have any graduate/ apprenticeship recruitment programmes?
Sally Owens, director of Oil 4 Wales, said: “We have recently welcomed two people who joined us from Jobs Growth Wales and we are also currently training two new trainees. They have acquired a range of business skills thanks to our varied customer base covering seven depots across Wales. They have also learned a great deal from our expert engineers.”
What one thing should be done by government to improve the quality of skills in the workplace?
“I think the Government should invest more thoroughly in enforcing skills objectives throughout the workplace. Employees who have a clear vision and purpose will see enhanced productivity, and ultimately translate into a significant boost for the economy.”
How do you see the workplace of 2050?
“The workplace is undergoing a constant transformation, not just across the UK but globally, due to advances in technology and a more immediate demand for services.
“The employees of 2050 will need to be highly adaptable in their skillsets in order to meet this need for immediacy in terms of services, and to ensure continued success.
“With the internet and social media now shaping the way that the vast majority of businesses communicate with clients, and also trade regionally and globally, it will be imperative that workers are wellversed in the latest technologies.” Pro Steel Engineering What does the company do? Specialist steel company Head office: Caldicot Total staff: 115 Regionally: 50 Rest of the UK: 65 Turnover: £8m Do you have any graduate/ apprenticeship recruitment programmes?
Richard Selby, director and coowner of Pro Steel Engineering, said: “This year we will add another apprentice to this discipline plus a CAD apprentice.”
What one thing should be done by government to improve the quality of skills in the workplace?
“More concerned with attitudes than skills. To have people that want to do a good job is more important than having the skills to start with.
“Ultimately the Government needs to put the necessary distraction of Brexit to one side and make some key domestic infrastructure decisions to help move the UK economy forward.”
How do you see the workplace of 2050?
“More connectivity than ever before – physically and digitally. We need to be able to communicate and connect flexibly and easily around the country to capitalise on opportunities as and when we want.” Acorn What does the company do? Specialist recruitment and training provider Head office: Newport Total staff: 260 Turnover: £115m (2015) Do you have any graduate/ apprenticeship recruitment programmes?
Helena Williams, corporate development director for Acorn’s Training Division, said: “At Acorn we have a comprehensive apprenticeship programme that operates across all our divisions.
“We employ apprentices throughout the business UK-wide. Some work within our branches and specialist divisions, progressing towards a career in recruitment, while others work in our support functions such as IT, marketing, accounts and HR working towards apprenticeships in customer service and business admin.
“We also have a number of employees doing higher apprenticeships in leadership and management within our Learning and Development Division.”
What one thing should be done by government to improve the quality of skills in the workplace?
“I think that there needs to be greater emphasis placed on promoting apprenticeships and gaining parity of esteem between apprenticeships and other forms of education and training.
“The [apprenticeship] levy has certainly heightened the knowledge of large employers but for the SME market, this is something that has to be cracked in order to get more Welsh businesses involved.
“Apprenticeships could be promoted better to young people in schools as a credible option for when they leave full-time education.”
How do you see the workplace of 2050?
“There is no question in my mind that there will be a lot more hi-tech and digital jobs. Certainly, here in Wales the number of employees