Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 16th January 2015
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Soft skills worth £88bn to UK economy
vet nurses
Healthcare industries are forecast to be one of the most at risk of losing out due to lack of support for soft skills.
Half a million workers 'will be held back by lack of soft skills'

Soft skills, including communication, interpersonal skills and teamwork, are worth £88 billion to the UK economy, new research suggests. It is estimated that over 500,000 workers will be held back by the lack of these skills by 2020.

A new report, released by Development Economics, shows the worth of these skills is set to rise to £109 million within five years.

Furthermore, a recent YouGov study indicates that while 97 per cent of employers believe soft skills are important to business success, three-quarters feel there is a lack of these skills in the UK workforce.

Healthcare industries are said to be one of the sectors most at risk of being held back due to a lack of support for soft skills from employers, government and educators. However, economists predict that this issue will affect all sectors.

Business man and entrepreneur James Caan CBE, commented: "Soft skills matter - to individuals, to businesses, and to the wider UK economy."

A new campaign backed by James Caan and a number of leading organisations is calling for a re-evaluation of these skills.

A three-month consultation has launched to gather information on current practices and attitudes. The data will be published later in 2015, alongside a set of recommendations for improving, supporting and promoting soft skills in the workplace.

Meanwhile, businesses, policy experts, campaign groups, trade associations and academics are invited to develop and share new ways of recognising and improving these skills.

To find out more about the consultation, visit: www.backingsoftskills.co.uk

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Applications open for MMI research grants

News Story 1
 RCVS' Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has launched round two of its veterinary mental health research grants.

Researchers have until 11.59pm on Wednesday, 28 May 2025 to apply for a grant for research which reflects MMI's 2025 focus areas.

Only one Impact Grant was awarded last year, and so this year there are two Discovery Grants and one Impact Grants available. Each Discovery Grant is worth £5,000 and the Impact Grant is worth £15,000.

For more information or to apply, email researchgrants@rcvs.org.uk to contact the MMI team.

 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Germany livestock import ban lifted

The UK government has amended its ban on the import of livestock, meat and dairy products from Germany.

Defra said the decision follows 'rigorous technical assessment' of the measures applied and the current situation. "If the situation changes, we will not hesitate to take necessary action in response to the FMD outbreaks in the European Union to protect our domestic biosecurity," it said.

The ban was implemented in January following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) near Berlin. Personal imports of meat, milk and dairy products will remain in place at a country level.