NEARLY 30 per cent of adults in Kent and Medway have no formal qualifications, compared to 24 per cent across the South East.

This alarming statistic was revealed during a public debate on the county’s skills shortage, organised by Business Link Kent (BLK) and the Kent branch of the Institute of Directors (IoD).

The debate centred on issues raised by The Kent Business Barometer, a quarterly survey of 500 businesses in the county.

Supported by the Learning & Skills Council (LSC), The Great Debate at Salomons, near Tunbridge Wells, was the first time the business community has had a chance to discuss the topic of skills and training in a public forum.

Chaired by award-winning broadcast journalist Nadine Dereza, an audience of business people, and other parties interested in training, exchanged views with a panel of experts.

The panellists were: Jeff Gibson, operations director at BLK; Alyson Howard, chairman of the Kent branch of the IoD; Tony Allen, director of skills at the LSC for Kent and Medway; Glenys Gilbert-Collins, skills adviser at Mid-Kent College; Fiona Pollard, proprietor of The Hop Farm Country Park; and Christopher Lawson, managing director of the London Fancy Box Company.

The discussion centred on the importance of training and dismissing the idea that if a firm trains its staff, they will leave and take their skills elsewhere.

Mr Gibson said: “There is just no proof of this, in fact staff that are nurtured are more likely to stay with a company.

“Increasing the skill levels of the existing workforce encourages loyalty because it can support a strong progression pathway for staff to develop within the business retaining all the skills, knowledge and experience that have been acquired.”

Mrs Howard stressed the need to provide training and essential skills to the 30 per cent of the county without qualifications, so they could contribute to the local economy and avoid becoming disenfranchised.

The lack of qualifications in the work place was a concern of the whole panel. Glenys Gilbert-Collins informed the audience there was considerable assistance available for businesses to develop training plans and to source training provision.

BLK has a team of skills advisers throughout Kent and more specialist assistance was available through skills advisers at each college.

Tony Allen stressed the motivational value of low skilled employees obtaining their first qualification.

Following the success of the first Great Debate, further debates on other key business topics are planned for next year.

For more information on skills advice and training support, and the results of the Kent Business Barometer, contact BLK on 08457 226655, email info@businesslinkkent.com or visit www.businesslinkkent.com.