BGC Pledges 5,000 Apprenticeships
The Betting and Gaming Council has backed the government’s “Plan For Jobs”, pledging to create 5,000 apprenticeships over the next five years. The scheme will provide young people with the necessary skills to pursue careers within the industry, while supporting the UK’s post-pandemic recovery.
The new employment scheme will help to address the digital skills gap. ©Mart Production/Pexels
Investing in Futures
The Betting and Gaming Council is the standards body that represents the UK’s casinos, betting shops and online operators. Taking inspiration from the government’s own “Plan For Jobs”, it has announced plans to offer 5,000 apprenticeships in the UK’s betting and gaming industry.
The initiative is aimed at investing in the futures of young people while supporting the UK’s economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. The apprenticeships will prepare participants for exciting careers in the sector, by teaching them essential skills. The move comes as good news for young jobseekers as well as for employers themselves.
Britain is home to some of the world’s leading online betting and gaming firms, as well as the tech firms that support the industry. The 5,000 announced apprenticeships will go a long way to support the sector’s growth by offering an influx of young talent.
Under BGC plans, the apprenticeships will be available for young people looking to work in the industry from now until 2025. The scheme has already been welcomed by industry leaders, and some regulated operators have already signed up to the government’s own Kick Start scheme.
The Kick Start scheme offers working opportunities to young people aged from 16 to 24 that are on Universal Credit. The roles are advertised at local job centers, and can also be discovered on the industry’s Kick Start jobs board.
So far, an array of businesses in the betting and gaming sector have already advertised hundreds of roles to help get young people into the industry. On top of this, operators have also been busy structuring their own graduate recruitment schemes, in order to attract young talent straight out of university.
One such operator is FSB Technology. In July, it announced that it had partnered with Rubik Talent to launch a graduate program aimed at graduates from underrepresented backgrounds. The initiative aims to bridge the digital skills gap by offering specialist tech training while improving diversity in the iGaming industry.
Economic Benefits
The BGC’s announcement comes as the government edges closer to publishing a long-awaited white paper on its Gambling Act Review. The review, which began last December, is focused on updating the UK’s gambling legislation, in particular with regards to digital developments.
Big changes are expected for the industry, as the government is facing pressure from campaigners to crack down on certain industry practices. It has been rumored that online casino VIP schemes could be brought to an untimely end, as could gambling sponsorships on football shirts. Curbs on advertising are also expected.
Until the white paper is published, it remains to be seen what the consequences of the review on the industry will be. However, the review is keen to make gambling safer for participants and update laws on online gambling. Ahead of the publication of the white paper, the BGC has highlighted the economic benefits that the industry has generated for the UK, as well as vital employment opportunities.
A report published earlier this year by Ernst and Young revealed that members of the BGC are responsible for supporting 119,000 jobs. Of those, 61,000 people are directly employed, while a further 58,000 people are employed in the supply chain. Almost a fifth of those working in the industry are below the age of 25, and more than half are younger than 35.
The same study also showed that in 2019 BGC members generated £4.5 billion for the Treasury in tax and contributed £7.7 billion in gross value added to the UK economy. Those statistics highlight the true value that the sector has in providing work for young people and supporting the economy.
Post-Pandemic Recovery
As the country recovers from the pandemic, those jobs are more important than ever. Announcing the plans, Chief Executive Michael Dugher spoke about the BGC’s commitment to assisting with the UK’s economic recovery. He highlighted the benefits that job creation and special training for young people would have.
Dugher has praised the government’s own “Plan For Jobs” for its ambition to create new apprenticeships and traineeships. Those opportunities will in turn reduce unemployment and increase productivity. The scheme is sure to have a positive impact on British businesses in the UK, as well as those that operate globally. Dugher stated:
“Between now and 2025, we pledge to offer a further 5,000 apprenticeships – crucial opportunities for young people to take their first step on the career ladder. Young people have been hardest hit by the pandemic – this pledge is an important step in enabling them to be a part of the wider recovery.”
While the 5,000 apprenticeships will significantly help in getting young people onto their career ladders, the initiative will also address the digital skills gap that the industry is facing. While other sectors are also having to cope with a shortage in digital skills, it is a problem that is affecting betting and gaming firms significantly.
In March of last year, the BGC warned that new immigration rules could impact the hiring of staff in the industry. It warned that many employees with specialist skills, such as croupiers, are hired in from abroad. Employees with specialist digital skills are also affected by those rules, so professional training schemes in the UK are more important than ever.
Speaking on behalf of the BGC, Dugher added that while the future remains uncertain and the pandemic is not yet over, the latest initiative from BGC members will allow young people to gain the skills, opportunities and confidence they need to thrive in new careers. After a difficult eighteen months, plans for the national recovery are well underway.
