Skills Shortage Undermining UK Export Growth

17th August 2015

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has today (14 August) released its latest Quarterly International Trade Outlook.

Commenting on the BCC's findings that a skills shortage is undermining UK export growth, Melanie Rippon, International Trade Co-ordinator at South Yorkshire International Trade Centre (SYITC), said: -While the volume of UK exports remains high according to the BCC findings, the news that more than two thirds of exporters are reporting difficulties hiring skilled and professional staff is a concern. -The SYITC works directly with exporters in the South Yorkshire region and our team knows that good, well-informed international trade practice and procedure is essential for any company involved in global commerce. -However, where companies are struggling with staff shortages and/or suffering skills gaps they need to be aware that help is there. Our fully comprehensive portfolio of services covers all aspects of international trade and is available to any company at any level. As a result, the department currently serves as a valuable resource for many exporters across our city business region. -Our training courses are designed to give in-depth and specific awareness of import and export subjects, while the SYITC Export Office Hub is a new service specifically developed to fill the skills gap for new and/or seasoned exporters with staff shortages. We are finding more and more exporters are using this service to their immediate advantage to ensure they are fully knowledgeable and sufficiently equipped to export successfully. "We agree with the BCC that businesses and schools need to work together to ensure students have a better understanding of the business world, the opportunities it presents to them and the skills that will help them to get ahead indeed, the SYITC and Sheffield Chamber of Commerce feel that student awareness of international trade is important even at Sixth Form stage in education. -As such, we are developing ideas and programmes for local schools and we also work closely with the Sheffield International College and both of the city's universities, lecturing on international trade procedures. -Ultimately, the BCC's report is correct - to reverse the UK's trade deficit, businesses need a workforce with the appropriate skills and knowledge to trade and compete on the global stage." Read the full BCC report - click here to download.