Well-rounded, highly-developed soft skills can be invaluable to personal and business success.
As we enter an era of increasing digital transformation and automation, the latest research shows a workforce with a broad mix of skills is more important than ever to help employees grow their careers and propel businesses forward.
In recent analysis by Linkedin, the social network analysed job vacancy data to identify the skills employers are looking for. It shows that interpersonal “soft” skills are the most prized, listing creativity, persuasion and collaboration as some of the top skills companies want most.
But what are soft skills?
Soft skills are also referred to as employability skills, enterprise skills and are transferable between industries and occupations. They include things like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, as well as emotional judgement, professional ethics and global citizenship
In response, the North Derbyshire Careers Hub, Chesterfield Borough Council and Destination Chesterfield have teamed up with Ingeus (the largest provider of the National Citizenship Service in the East Midlands) to deliver a FREE bespoke ‘soft skills’ employability programme.
The new programme will be held over two consecutive weekends in Chesterfield and include involvement from local businesses and employers. Graduates of the programme will receive a certificate of completion.
- Saturdays and Sundays 5th/6th and 12th/13th December in Chesterfield
- 9am to 4.30pm each day
- Lunch is included
It is targeted at year 11/12 & 13 students, who will soon be entering the labour market in the coming months.
The programme aims to take the mystery out of applying for jobs, doing interviews, writing a CV and boosting your skills.
Students will also learn the importance of the skills required by employers such as communication, teamwork, leadership, and problem solving and also learn how to evidence them.
Dan Heffernan, Careers Hub Lead for the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “This has been a difficult time for everyone, especially students. But we are also seeing bright spots starting to emerge in sectors such as Digital.
“However, employers are looking for a mix of skills, especially soft skills. Working with our partners, we have put together this exciting programme to address this need and give local students the skills they need to grab the future they want.
“If the project is successful, it will pave the way for further projects to be rolled out nationally.”
For more information and to sign up please contact NCS Programme Manager, Tamsaine Weir
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