Skip to main content

UK businesses need a digital overhaul, and apprenticeships could be the answer

Digital technology mtime20191009103403

Almost every business and organisation is talking about “digital transformation” – there is an expectation that digital development will do magic to the business. Indeed, digital technologies that are emerging as well as those reaching maturity, such as data analytics, Internet of Things, AI and machine learning have the potential to transform businesses through new capabilities and innovation.

However, where there are many success stories of digital transformation, there are also failures. These failures are often attributed to the lack of alignment between business and digital strategies, but also to the lack of leadership in enabling digital transformation, which involves fostering digital capabilities through training managers and key members of the organisation. Moreover, studies have suggested that while the UK still remains relatively competitive in the digital world, it is being overtaken by other economies, especially in terms of digital mindset.

This is why degree apprenticeships are increasingly gaining interest to upskill the workforce, ensuring businesses can succeed in their digital transformation. Apprenticeships offer opportunities to develop the leaders who are, or will be, responsible for leading the digital transformations in their organisations.

Unlike traditional courses, those studying through an apprenticeship programme can have a direct and often immediate impact on the organisation, as the learning approach and coursework are mostly set in the actual organisational context. This benefits the employers as well as the learners who will achieve a degree that can immediately enhance their career prospects.

In the near future, digital transformation will no longer be anything special. Digital strategy must be an integral part of the business strategy to remain competitive. An apprenticeship in digital technology solutions can provide a solution to developing a digitally-minded workforce.

Professor Keiichi Nakata

Head of Digitalisation, Marketing and Entrepreneurship
Published 28 June 2023
Topics:
Leading insights

You might also like

Why leaders at COP26 are missing an opportunity to be bolder in their actions

8 November 2021
Professor Kevin Money and Dr Irene Garnelo-Gomez explain why they believe governments could be doing more to tackle climate change, in our latest Leading Insights.
Leading insights

What can we expect from the Spring Statement?

22 March 2022
Two finance and tax experts from Henley Business School – Clare Bentata, Lecturer in Accounting and Taxation, and Dr Nikolaos Antypas, Lecturer in Finance – give their predictions ahead of Rishi Sunak's Spring Budget on Wednesday.
Leading insights

Sunak’s path to PM: a tale of intersectionality

25 October 2022
Another month, another Prime Minister. Dr Melissa Carr and Dr Miriam Marra – Directors of EDI at Henley - explore the significance of the UK’s first South Asian and Hindu leader.
Leading insights Equity, Diversity and Inclusion