Upskilling and reskilling: training at the heart of the new-world workplace
Over the past 10 years, the digital revolution has transformed our working lives, making them more flexible, mobile and connected than ever before. The COVID pandemic has accelerated this change with impacts that no-one could have foreseen.
Change one thing, change everything
In mid-2020, 93% of the global workforce lived in countries applying some kind of workplace closure measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus. That translates to an unprecedented number of workers taking part in a sudden and mass experiment with remote working; 39% of workers in OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries on average.[1] The COVID crisis has prompted a change in where we work, which has caused shifts in how, when and how much we work; workforce organization; employee-employer relationships; and company communication.
While the pandemic has given many employees a chance to reestablish work-life balance, it has given businesses a valuable opportunity to rethink their organizational and workplace structures. In concrete terms, the shift to remote working has forced more than 80% of global business to accelerate the digitization of processes – with more than 30% also accelerating the implementation of reskilling and upskilling programs.[2] Prior to the crisis, it was estimated that by 2030, 9% of all employees would work in roles that do not currently exist.[3] In the current context, that looks like a very conservative estimate.
What will it take for businesses to thrive?
Technology is now a key enabler for businesses, ensuring continuity during the crisis and often proving to be time and cost effective. However, it is also eliminating the need for certain job profiles and causing new ones to emerge as current tasks are reorganized or automated. This is both a challenge and an opportunity. The success of a company’s technology transition depends largely on its willingness to review its entire value chain, including processes, tasks, jobs and skills. A thorough understanding of the impact of technology on each of these components allow them to equip employees with new skillsets for an effective transition into the digitized environment.
To reskill and upskill the workforce requires close collaboration among Human Resources, Learning and Talent Management within an organization, as well as Diversity and Technology Officers. These departments have to anticipate staffing needs in evolving and emerging areas, both developing the skills of the existing workforce and making astute hiring decisions where necessary.
Emerging needs, evolving skills
According to the latest Bureau Veritas Training Survey, five areas will see strong growth over the coming years: sustainability; information security; data privacy; food management systems; and quality, health & safety and environmental management systems (QHSE).
The public is increasingly vigilant about the brands and organizations they patronize, and trust in a company’s ethical credentials and its management of risk are now important criteria for organizations choosing partners. As a result, the work done by Quality, Health and Safety, Environmental, Risk, Sustainability, IT, Operations and Compliance Managers is gaining in importance.
Training
Digital support for training needs
To help organizations meet their needs and fulfill the expectations of their ambitious workforce, Bureau Veritas has developed the BVC Digital Academy. Using a virtual classroom training system, we offer a wide range of training modules, including 26 IRCA-recognized training courses auditor, lead auditor, and auditor conversion. The program covers management system standards ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 27001, with ISO 22000 and ISO 50001 to follow.
Our Certification Training management platform currently enables clients in 11 countries to search for and book training courses online, with new countries frequently added. A dedicated training website offers the entire portfolio available in each country, with classroom, open, on-site, e-learning and virtual classroom trainings.
The right choice of training
Bureau Veritas is a world leader in management systems and auditor training, and courses are delivered by a global network of experienced and specialized professionals. By choosing the BVC Digital Academy, organizations ensure their staff take courses that are recognized and respected within their industry and throughout the world. Through a unique blend of digital learning, classroom courses, and in-house training, we help trainees develop and thrive, so that their companies can too.
