There is strong evidence to support that businesses putting their employees through basic numeracy training can create large productivity returns, boosts profit, and increases employee retention (particularly important in a tight labour market with lots of vacancies that are proving hard to fill). So even small improvements in people’s numeracy skills yield large returns for businesses.

• • Boosting numeracy skills can also raise employees’ self-esteem and remove any perceived or real barriers to career development opportunities.
  • Reduce workplace errors
  • Increase productivity
  • Support can be delivered in the workplace
  • Bespoke courses can be written to meet your business needs
  • Links can be made to local delivery partners
  • Can support apprentices with Functional Skills Mathematics to help them successfully complete their apprenticeship
  • courses can range from drop-in sessions, to short term intensive courses to full length qualifications designed to reduce the numeracy skills gap within your business.

It is commonly assumed that most employees possess at least basic numeracy skills, however, according to National Numeracy (2022) 49% of working-age adults have the same numeracy level that we expect of primary school children. What’s more, over three-quarters (78%) are working below GCSE Level 2 (equivalent to C in the old grading system).

So, unless your organisation is an accountancy firm, or another kind of highly numerate business, there’s a high chance that at least some of your staff don’t feel confident using numbers and data to make good decisions in daily life, including in the workplace. In fact, 80% of staff surveyed by National Numeracy (2022) said they had seen mistakes made at work due to poor numeracy.

Poor numeracy is thought to cost the UK economy (the Exchequer, employers and individuals) £20 billion a year. That figure might seem incredible, but employees who are unable to calculate a discount or a mark-up, or who struggle to interpret even the simplest of spreadsheets, effectively pose a risk to their organisation’s profit margins and budgeting processes.

How we can help

Employers often find it difficult to recruit new people that have the numeracy skills they really want. We can help you to develop your employees to fill this gap, in-house.

Who is it for?

If you’re aged 19+ and do not already have a GCSE at grade C (or equivalent) in maths, Multiply is available to you for free.

Courses are being delivered across Lancashire and can be accessed in person or online.

How does it work?

Please visit https://www.lancashireskillshub.co.uk/multiply/business/ and complete the Employers Engagement Form or email – see below

For further details contact: Pam Lightbown at the Lancashire Skills Hub – pamela.lightbown@lancashirelep.co.uk or call: 07890982773