The role of apprenticeships in attracting and retaining tech talent

UKTN said that Estimates from the Open University (1) suggest that around 600,000 vacancies in digital technology are costing the UK economy approximately £63 billion a year. Put another way, demand significantly outstrips supply when it comes to professionals with tech skills and experience.

COVID-19 has further accelerated this trend. Research from Tech Nation (2) found that vacancies within the UK tech sector rose by 36% between June and August 2020 – only the healthcare sector experienced a sharper rise in demand for staff.

The figures demonstrate the role that the pandemic has played in increasing society’s reliance on technology, in turn encouraging – or forcing – tech businesses to grow their teams to meet such demand. As such, the topic of how to best attract, nurture and retain talent is more relevant for tech SMEs today than it ever has been.

Apprenticeship schemes should not be overlooked. They can play an integral role in identifying and training new members of staff, particularly younger people and those who have just left secondary school, equipping them with the tech skills they need to excel within the business. What’s more, apprenticeships can also provide a valuable means of upskilling existing employees and building greater loyalty within a workforce.

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