We’ve all heard of the skills gap, a problem that has been getting progressively worse in the UK over the past few years. Companies have positions to fill, they are seeking out new candidates, but they simply can’t seem to find individuals with the appropriate or relevant skills.

This problem is worsening within the tech industry and it’s not just businesses that are predominantly focused on tech that are feeling the pinch. Businesses working across a plethora of sectors need to create a workforce with significant tech skills thanks to the ways in which industries are changing.

As processes become automated and more and more businesses move onto the cloud, having professionals with tech skills that can easily adapt to these new ways of working is more crucial than ever.

So, what steps can businesses take if they want to bridge the tech skills gap?

Invest time in your team’s professional development

It’s no good just recruiting candidates and expecting your tech talent shortage to magically disappear. You need to invest the time and relevant resources to train employees. Digital transformation means that the skillset needed by professionals is changing if they are to manage applications in the cloud effectively.

You need to ensure that you are doing more than just making training available. Instead, treat the development of skills in the same way that you would any other business challenge. This will mean that assessment, management and measurement are all crucial.

Consider adding these steps to your cloud training program

•  Add training goals to each of your team member’s monthly or quarterly goals. Ensure that these are measurable and that your workforce knows what they are working towards. When goals are reached or surpassed, reward your team accordingly.
• Tech is constantly adapting and changing and because of that, you need to instill a culture of continuous improvement in your company and ensure that there are transparent metrics around effort and end results.
• Ensure that your training plans aren’t static – they will need to evolve as quickly as the industry does, which is fairly rapid. 

Try nontraditional resourcing methods

When you’re looking for new talent, consider expanding your search, as doing so could help you attract candidates from relating industries including hard sciences, research, and applied maths.