Recession reveals the value of qualifications

Every year employers say they struggle to find recruits with the right skills to help them continue to grow their businesses. Despite the economic downturn, demand for BCS professional qualifications from public and private organisations, as well as individuals, continues to grow.

It is precisely those qualified staff who will help employers get through the tough times ahead.

There’s no disputing the evidence that belonging to a professional organisation and being professionally qualified can improve a person’s career prospects. According to a recent report by the Consultative Committee for Professional Management Organisations, a member of a professional body with recognised professional qualifications will be paid about 37 per cent more during their working lifetime – three times more than those who have GCSEs and A-levels, and they will earn more than £60,000 more in total than those with a degree.

But what about the organisation’s bottom line? Research by Gartner shows that most organisations lack all the skills needed to implement and optimise their business processes. And, according to Gartner, the shortage of that vital mix of professional versatility, a wide breadth of business knowledge and technological know-how in IT is threatening growth. In short, organisations need rounded IT professionals with a broad range of skills and experience to grow, and they know it.

As IT professionals work in an increasingly mobile global market, it means that employers have to work as hard as ever to keep good members of staff. That’s why BCS puts as much energy into helping companies assess, channel and capitalise on the talents of their workforce as we do trying to help individuals maximise their potential and earning power.

This year’s joint BCS and Computing UK IT Industry Awards will recognise those organisations that promote excellence in IT professionalism, something that is an essential part of the mutually beneficial employe r-employee contract.

Adam Thilthorpe is BCS director for professionalism