Alan Milburn

You know, when you talk to employees about what is it that they really value, by and large, of course, actually they do want kids who are literate and humorous, who are able to do that.

But the things that they're really valuing in particular now are so-called interpersonal skills.

So can you make eye contact?

Can you have a conversation?

So a friend of mine has led the movement in schools nationally to introduce what's called oracy into the curriculum.

Just the ability to talk.

And communicate.

And that's the second thing that employers say.

We want communication skills.

We want collaboration skills.

Because nowadays, a lot of business and work generally is a team-based sport.

Think about what happens in healthcare, for example.

It's not just about what the doctor does.

It's working as part of a multidisciplinary team, working together.

So all of those skills become more and more important.

and the creativity, and I'd put that together with agility.

Because if you think about what's going to happen in the labour market, it's going to change very rapidly.

You know, the days are gone.

When I was getting careers advice from John Marley School in the West End of Newcastle as a 16-year-old, you were either, I got sent to the DHSS in Long Benton and the Northern Rock in Gosforth because I was one of the brighter kids.

So I was on the white-collar route.