How a Vibrant Industry Community Can Close the Global Skill Gap

In response to the widening skill gap, industries are increasingly focusing on developing the skills of their workforce. The urgency to attract and retain skilled staff with essential competencies has never been greater. This is especially true of industries with large channel partner networks, where channel partner staff upskilling and reskilling has become paramount.

Efficient skill development hinges on several factors: dedicating time and resources to train new staff, providing on-the-job training, automating training processes, and facilitating the transition of existing staff into advanced roles to foster continuous growth and knowledge enhancement within the organization.

Attracting, retaining, and mentoring talent are foundational to nurturing a thriving extended enterprise. Establishing a centralized hub for information, resources, development opportunities, and networking within the industry sets organizations apart while addressing the global skill gap.

Enter the Lifelong Learning Portal

A lifelong learning portal is pivotal for attracting new professionals. By leveraging this platform, organizations can raise industry awareness and showcase the benefits of working within their fold. For instance, prospective partner salespeople or technicians can access comprehensive curricula detailing career expectations and educational pathways.

This portal guides students through various educational options, from trade schools to apprenticeships, streamlining their entry into the industry.

Empower Through Retention

Retaining talent is imperative in combating the global skill gap. Investing in network members’ continuous development, offering clear career progression paths, and providing tailored training metrics enable employees to grow within the industry. Pairing seasoned technicians with newcomers fosters a sense of belonging and knowledge exchange, enhancing retention efforts.

Expanding Mentorship Opportunities

Creating a mentorship program can be challenging, but a match-making portal bridges this gap. By facilitating connections between mentors and mentees based on skills and experience, organizations extend mentorship across their industry community. This inclusive approach allows individuals at various career stages to benefit from shared expertise and guidance.

A Path Towards Closing the Skill Gap

For organizations with large channel partner networks, leveraging existing training resources to create a Lifelong Learning Portal can be a key strategy to addressing the growing skill gap within their industry and partner network. It enables these organizations to:

• Attract new talent into the industry
• Retain talent within their network by enabling career development within the network
• Encourages alumni and other industry talent to rejoin their channel networks.

LatitudeLearning is actively pursuing that effort, and we hope you will join us.