‘Training will be key in helping economy after lockdown’

Bright Futures said training would be key in responding to an economic landscape that would be fundamentally changed by the Covid-19 crisis and lockdown. The charity aims to support Bailiwick residents to upskill or re-skill.

‘We will see a permanent loss of capital. A shift in the social narrative,’ said Bright Futures founder Susie Crowder.

‘Whilst at home, and with so many excellent online learning solutions available, we should all take this opportunity to carefully map out what learning programmes, whether short vocational or longer academic, are essential for safeguarding our future careers and aspirations.’

Earlier this year, Bright Futures supported the creation of a learner account for every Bailiwick resident in collaboration with FutureLearn.

‘We are keen to get as many people in our community learning – we will all need to continually invest in our own human capital to remain resilient and competitive,’ said Mrs Crowder.

‘We need to change the way we think about lifelong education and learning and its importance in sustaining and growing our economy.

‘There is a direct correlation between learning and holistic wellbeing which should remain a priority for all.

‘Through raising awareness of the changing human capital needs of the workplace, removing funding barriers and offering an impartial professional multi-stage career mapping service, we aim to increase the economic achievement of individuals and consequently augment the island’s economy.

‘The future economy will call for new capabilities.

‘Those that invest to achieve such capabilities will probably succeed. Those that do not, may find it difficult to maintain or secure sustainable employment similar to that which they have been so familiar with and suffer a fall in quality of life and overall well being. This is preventable if we act now.’