Upskilling and reskilling - what is the difference? September 17, 2021

Upskilling and reskilling - what is the difference?

As the end of the furlough scheme fast approaches and the world is opening again, talk of ‘upskilling’ and ‘reskilling’ is rife amongst workplaces.

But what are upskilling and reskilling? How do they differ from each other? And how do you know which option is right for you, or your team?

Here, our experts at London TFE set the upskilling vs reskilling debate straight so you can make the most appropriate decisions and plan for the future.

Upskilling

Upskilling is all about adapting and changing within a current role. It’s about expanding your skillset to be better equipped to do your job.

This has been particularly prominent during the pandemic, as people quickly adapted to working from home and needed to build digital skills to access online meetings, training or make processes more efficient for remote working.

Examples could include a finance manager being trained to access cloud-based accounting software to make logging and processing easier, or an experienced marketeer gaining SEO skills to help boost online reach amongst the growing digital market.

Generally, upskilling is seen as a more cost-efficient option for businesses, as they can focus on improving their current employee’s skills via training courses, mentoring and microlearning, rather than having to invest in hiring someone new.

To help with any upskilling needs you or your team may have, London TFE adapted during the pandemic by developing a range of online courses, which are still available.

For more details, view our online course catalogue.

We also offer short courses, ranging from 3 days to two weeks. You can find out more here: We also offer short courses, ranging from 3 days to two weeks

Reskilling

Reskilling is different to upskilling because the focus is on new skills which potentially could open up new and different career opportunities.

As people return to a ‘new normal’ in the workplace, such opportunities maybe made available to employees, if as a result of the pandemic their roles will cease to exist.

Reskilling enables employers to retain talented team members whilst adapting to the changing needs of the company. For example, an administrator who has been with the company for 10 years is a valuable asset, due to the knowledge the employee has about the business. If that role became obsolete, reskilling the employee for a different role or department, enables the company to retain that knowledge while streamlining and removing roles no longer needed.

As well as a variety of online courses, London TFE offers face to face training, bespoke training and executive coaching. Learn more about our learning solutions

Training you can trust

Whether you are happy in your career and are just looking for training options to help you improve your current skillset, or if you are looking to reskill for a career change, London TFE is here to help.

If you need support or advice about any training needs your company has, please get in touch with the London TFE team or use our online chat facility.