Over 55s are being locked out of workplace skills training opportunities

• One in three UK employees in the UK are over the age of 50, but a large proportion of this generation are being overlooked for workplace skills training opportunities and are being locked out of opportunities to upskill and re-skill in today’s rapidly evolving workplaces.
• Over half of over 55s haven’t received any management or leadership training in their current role.
• Over half of over 55s (55%) haven’t received any technical skills training on how to use digital tools and technologies, such as ChatGPT, from their employer in the past twelve months.
• Employees aged over 55 are also least likely to have received workplace training around ‘human’ management skills, such as empathy, mental health awareness and emotional intelligence.

The findings are from Corndel’s Workplace Training Report 2024, based on research conducted with 1,000 UK employees and 250 HR decision makers at large organisations*. 

Over 55s value professional development and aren’t confident in their current skills set

Over half of over 55s (54%) say professional development is an important factor in their decision to stay with an organisation, suggesting employers need to shift their thinking around offering training and development for employees who are in their fifties and over.

Worryingly, one in five over 55s (19%) don’t feel confident enough in their current skill set to find new employment or pivot their career if they were to lose their current job. In contrast, less than one in ten (8%) under 55s didn’t feel confident in their ability to find a new job or pivot their career with their current skill set. 

James Kelly, co-founder and CEO of Corndel, said: “Skills power people and power organisations. Without providing access to adequate training opportunities, we are not allowing this group of the workforce to thrive. And businesses are potentially losing out on the huge value that this experienced group of the workforce can add if they have equal access to ongoing technical and management skills training.”

Over 55s case study: Robin Razzell, Data Analyst at Mitie Energy

Robin Razzell is a highly experienced commercial project manager with a 24-year career spanning engineering, retail, and IT systems development and is currently a Data Analyst at Mitie Energy. Robin is currently enrolled on the Corndel and Imperial College London Data Analyst programme. 

“If you want to remain relevant to the workplace, you must upskill, it doesn’t matter what age you are. Without that upskilling, you will shortly find yourself sidelined and of no more use if you’re not educated about the current trends in the workplace environment.” says Robin.

AI Fundamentals training 

To help employees at all stages of their career upskill in the latest technology tools in the workplace, Corndel, the strategic workplace training provider, has recently introduced its ‘AI Fundamentals’ learning modules across all of its leadership, data and tech programmes at all levels of learning. 

The course is designed to be accessible to all employees, no matter where they are in their career, and is designed to empower and elevate professionals in an evolving and complex AI landscape. The course modules provide foundational knowledge of AI, its mechanisms and its potential, as well as ethical considerations and practical applications of AI tailored to each professional sector, ensuring learners can navigate the AI-powered future with confidence and responsibility. 

*Opinium Research conducted an online poll on behalf of Corndel with 250 HR decision makers in organisations with 250+ employees and an online poll with 1,000 UK employees on 7th to 11th December 2023.

HRD Connect Curators of the New Business Landscape. HRD Connect produces industry-recognized content for senior HR leaders. Through articles, case studies, Q&As, podcasts, events, and more, we offer truly progressive and cutting-edge insights designed to help people leaders address core HR challenges and add greater value to their business.

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