But not all skills are equal - vocational training can provide the power skills needed to unleash potential and drive business growth.
In the middle of that battle for productivity sits the membership organisation. It is vital in bringing together like-minded people, empowering them and sharing valuable insights and learnings. At AAT we work hard alongside our community to do just that and support the businesses we work with to flourish by providing the skills needed to succeed. Whether through short courses, such as finance for non-finance professionals, or through recognised professional qualifications, AAT unlocks opportunity for all, opening career paths in finance and equipping people with the real world skills.
New opportunities to upskill as professions evolve
Rapid technological advancement and new ways of working have seen industries evolve at an incredible pace. The workforce of today needs to grow their skillset to match the evolution of their professions, which is why vocational training courses are critical for people at different stages of their careers to stay up to date and at the cutting edge of their sector.
Take the role of the accountant, a profession that is adapting at pace to ensure its future relevance as AI and cloud accounting becomes commonplace. This requires an up-to-date digital skillset, alongside those powers skills such as communication, analytical thinking and problem solving. It also means embracing lifelong learning opportunities to ensure accountants have the skills to deliver most effectively for their clients. That also means growing their roles and the impact they have by spotting new commercial opportunities, interpreting data, and advising on strategic business decision-making and powering business growth.
Championing professionalism by sharing expertise
Membership communities know the value of lifelong learning to stay on trend with the latest developments. This applies across all industries, but there’s an especially clear need in the finance sector as AAT research shows that many lack basic financial literacy, even if it’s pertinent to their careers. Our research shows that two out of five (42%) UK finance workers are embarrassed to admit they don't understand terminology at work and often turn to tech, with two thirds (63%) using Google and just under half (45%) using AI/ChatGPT for answers.
The need for greater, refreshed vocational training is also apparent beyond those working in finance; general UK workers have also confessed they find finance tasks in their jobs difficult. Our survey shows in fact that over a third of UK workers say that they find budgeting at work extremely stressful. This comes as recent research highlights an increasing desire to pursue further education mid-career. An AAT study revealed that 68% of jobseekers aged 35-44 have considered apprenticeship routes with many citing the immediate application of these vocational skills in the workplace as a motivation.
The desire to learn is apparent as is the need for practical and real world ready skills. Membership bodies are ideally positioned to bring these two things together and empower our member communities and the businesses they serve through vocational training that drives productivity and growth.
