Known Unknowns: the demand for higher level skills

CFE researchers have surveyed more than 400 businesses across the East Midlands to explore the extent and nature of demand for higher level skills from businesses in the East Midlands.

The new research has found that policymakers and higher education providers must develop a better understanding of the demand for higher level skills from business if they are to meet ambitious skills and productivity targets.

Through the research, CFE have identified that 39% of businesses had undertaken training at this level in the past year and 61% had not.

Other key findings include:

For businesses that do undertake higher level skills training:

  • Qualifications are important; in choosing a provider this is a more important factor than the method, location or cost of training;  
  • They tend to meet the full cost of the training and when they buy from HEIs, they are more likely to buy locally;
  • 77 per cent reported that training had had a positive impact on their business
  • The majority use HEIs to deliver training, particularly ‘post-1992’ institutions
For businesses that do not undertake higher level skills training:
  • Most could see no benefit to their business in doing so
  • Only small number cited financial costs or lack of awareness as barriers to undertaking higher level skills training
  • Almost two thirds said they were ‘unlikely’ or ‘definitely not’ inclined to undertake training at this level in the future

The full report of 'Known Unknowns: the demand for higher level skills from businesses' can be found here.




March 2008
(Revised and updated November 2008)