[WiLT] Management skills gaps have greatest impact on third sector organisations

[WiL Admin]

Management skills gaps have greatest impact on third sector
organisations

Management skills gaps have the greatest impact on the work of third
sector organisations, is the key finding highlighted in Third Sector
Skills Research 2008, published today by the UK Workforce Hub and the
National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO).

Third Sector Skills Research 2008 is an in-depth, qualitative study
that builds on the findings in the Voluntary Sector Skills Survey
2007.  It is part of a long-term programme of research carried out by
the UK Workforce Hub and NCVO in assessing the skills base of third
sector organisations.

Key findings from Third Sector Skills Research 2008 show:
* Formal training and qualifications have increased but these have not
always been tailored to suit organisational and individual needs.
* Barriers to skills development are higher for smaller organisations.
More than any other type of organisation, they require specific
solutions adapted to their needs, for example, pooling resources and
consortia purchasing of training.
* 'Soft skills' such as behavioural or attitudinal competencies need
to be integrated into an individual's training and development.
* Career pathways into and through the third sector should be more
clearly expressed.
* Integrating training and learning into the culture of an
organisation, is vital for the development of employees and
organisations.

Supporting statistics from the Voluntary Sector Skills Survey 2007, UK
Workforce Hub

Around 30% of employers reported under-skilled staff. Small
organisations are more likely to report skills gaps.

* Over 25% of employers reported skills gaps within marketing,
strategic use of IT, legal knowledge and fundraising.
* 50% of employers found that skills gaps were caused by a lack of
time and funding for training within their organisation.
* Over ¾ (77%) of employers provided further training and development
as a solution to skills gaps within their organisation.

Supporting statistics from the UK Voluntary Sector Workforce Almanac
2007, NCVO and UK Workforce Hub

The voluntary sector workforce has increased by 26% in the last ten
years and now employs 611,000 employees, considerably more than the
number of people working in banks and building societies.

Janet Fleming, Head of the UK Workforce Hub, said:

"The bottom line is, we need a longer term skills strategy for the
sector.  It's not just about individual skills training and giving
your workforce the necessary tools to do the job.  What counts is how
that training is tailored to suit the working environment of different
organisations.

"Good managers regularly identify skills gaps in their teams and plan
to resolve them.  We need people in voluntary and community
organisations to share this good practice across the sector.   We also
need to persuade more funders and commissioners to build the costs of
developing skills into grants and contracts.

"We will continue to lobby government for the establishment of a third
sector workforce skills body, because this best way to influence
public policy on skills and to ensure that colleges and universities
deliver courses to meet the sector's skills requirement."

For copies of Sector Skills Research 2008 and for more information,
please contact Jemima Broadbridge Media Officer, NCVO, on 020 7520
2469, email: jemima.broadbridge at ncvo-vol.org.uk, or Grant Imlach,
Media manager, on 020 7520 2468, email: grant.imlach at ncvo-vol.org.uk

Continues at http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/press/releases/?id=9952