Productivity in the UK is suffering as 5.3 million workers lose two-and-a-half hours a week dealing with other people’s IT traumas.  Figures revealed today show 59% of companies rely on self-trained staff to sort out everyday computer problems, meaning those in the know end up doing overtime as they take on the trials and tribulations of the IT illiterate.

According to a report published today by City & Guilds, the UK’s leading awarding body for work-related qualifications, many UK businesses have a ‘make do’ attitude to everyday IT issues.   Small companies with 6-10 employees are the quickest to pass IT dramas onto unqualified staff, with 65% of IT ‘amateurs’ having to work above and beyond their contracted roles every day as a result.

Even with 71¹ of households owning a computer, the UK‘s workplaces are suffering from IT phobia.   Over a third (35%) of workers have failed to get a job done on time due to a lack of IT knowledge and trained support, with over half (54%) trying to fix problems by themselves, often doing more harm than good.

One in 20 even leave their desk when there’s an IT problem in the hope that it will have gone away by the time they return!
But the problem won’t just disappear. According to sector skills council e-skills, around 7.6 million people² in the UK need to increase their IT skills to address current needs and changing employer demand over the next three years.

Ken Gaines, product manager for IT User qualifications, comments, ‘City & Guilds commissioned this research to highlight how everyday IT issues are slowing down individuals, businesses and the economy.’

‘In many companies IT issues are passed on to existing staff in an attempt to keep costs down.  However, without proper training, novices can end up costing companies far more in terms of productivity levels.  For this reason, we urge employers, particularly of smaller companies, to support the development of IT user skills in their workforce.’

When it comes to pestering colleagues with worries over the workstation, lawyers are the worst offenders with 81% off-loading their computer qualms to their colleagues. Civil servants also cave in easily with computer questions being fielded to those “in the know” at least ten times a week.

However, call centres take a more forward-looking view to IT problems with an impressive 56% of call centre employees now having the necessary training to get themselves out of a sticky IT situation.

Despite younger generations growing up around computers, their workplace IT literacy still leaves much to be desired. Figures show 43% of 19-to-21 year olds fail to get a job done on time due to a lack of IT skills, compared to 36% of 31 to 35 year olds.

Just like it’s said that men would rather get lost than ask for directions, 60% of men have admitted to, on occasion, just trying to muddle through and sort out a problem themselves, compared to 52% of women.

‘More than ever in this unstable economy, employers need to make better use of their resources’, says Ken Gaines.   ‘ For the UK to remain globally competitive workers at all levels need appropriate training to use current and emerging information technologies, in particular the everyday applications that the majority of people are failing to make the most of.’

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Media contact:
Phillipa Thomas
phillipa.thomas@cityandguilds.com
0207 294 3437

For more information about City & Guilds IT qualifications: www.cityandguilds.com/itquals

City & Guilds
City & Guildsis the UK’s leading provider of vocational qualifications, offering over 500 awards across a wide range of industries, and progressing from entry level to the highest levels of professional achievement.

With over 8500 centres in 100 countries, City & Guilds is recognised by employers worldwide for providing qualifications that offer proof of the skills they need to get the job done http://www.cityandguilds.com/

City & Guilds IT Qualifications
City & Guilds offers qualifications, eligible for government funding, to keep costs down for employers and individual.
The qualifications can be tailored to suit employers’ and individuals’ needs, whether work or classroom based.

Qualifications are based on the National Occupational Standards as developed by e-Skills UK (Sector Skills Council for IT & Telecoms).
The qualifications are designed with employment in mind providing individuals with the skills they need to gain employment or to further their career, whether using IT as part of a job or working as IT professional to support others.

The most IT challenged regions (percentages based on how many fail to do a job properly due to lack of IT skills)
1) Northern Ireland
2) South East - 38%
3) Scotland – 37%
4) East Midlands – 35%
5) East Anglia – 33%
6) North West – 33%
7) London – 33%
8) Wales – 31%
9) West Midlands – 31%
10) South West – 30%
11) Yorkshire and Humberside – 29%
12) North East – 25%

Percentages of employees who have had IT training per sector
Call Centres, Telecommunications – 56%
Engineers – 53%
Civil Service – 46%
Teaching, Training and Education – 45%
Marketing, Advertising, PR, Media, Promotions – 45%
Accounting, Banking, Insurance, Finance – 41%
Construction and Property Development, Building Services – 40%
Health, Nursing, Social Care – 40%
Transport, Logistics, Aviation – 38%
Catering – 37%
Secretarial, PA, Administration, HR & Recruitment – 37%
Hair and beauty – 33%
Law – 30%
Manufacturing – 30%
Travel, Leisure, Tourism – 19%

Percentages of employees who need IT help from colleagues per sector
Law – 80%
Catering – 69%
Teaching, Training and Education – 65%
Marketing, Advertising, PR, Media, Promotions – 65%
Construction and Property Developments – 65%
Hair and beauty – 62%
Call Centres,– 62%
Manufacturing – 61%
Accounting, Banking, Insurance, Finance – 59%
Transport, Logistics, Aviation – 59%
Secretarial, PA, Administration, HR & Recruitment – 58%
Engineers – 55%
Health, Nursing, Social Care – 53%
Civil Service – 48%
Travel, Leisure, Tourism – 47%

Research conducted by 72 Point in August 2008 based on 1,000 responses.

1. Statistic according to December 2006 research - www.bcn.es/english/omnibus/conclusion.htm
2. 'IT Investment, IC Use and UK Film Productivity' Rafaella Sadun, Shikeb Farooki, Giles Gale, Mark Lever, Office of National Statistics August 2005.