British businesses are increasing their emphasis on skills auditing to seek out ‘hidden talent’ within their organisations, according to training company Parity.

The IT services specialist says it has seen demand for advice on skills analysis and skills management increase by 93% over the past quarter. The summer months from April to August saw the biggest surge as companies took advantage of the traditionally quieter period to take stock.

“The quieter summer months have often been a time for companies to reflect on skills deployment and development,” said Paul Turner, business development director at Parity’s Training division. “This summer has been no exception, but there is a major shift in how businesses are choosing to address skills shortages. Rather than simply buying in new skill sets, companies are much keener to assess and develop the existing talent within their organisation, often by using standard competency frameworks as benchmarks.”

“I don’t think it’s any coincidence that British business has started to investigate skills and competencies at around the same time as the Government’s announcements on the Efficiency Review. Like the public sector, the private sector is becoming increasingly savvy about how it manages its human resources and skills deployment,” continued Turner.

In comparison to the same period last year, when new technology training was in highest demand, this year has seen a move towards an increasing emphasis on skills such as IT service management and project management.

“With companies seeking increased better returns in investment from IT projects and an ongoing trend towards outsourcing, businesses are looking to develop the leadership and management skills that underpin these trends,” Turner concluded.