Future-proofing skills

DELOITTE global chairman David Cruickshank has no qualms admitting that the organisation he runs is seen as a training ground for young professionals. Far from it - it is something he is proud of. After all, educating and training people for the workforce of the future is, he feels, one of the most pressing issues that the world faces today.

"Skilling and training people and making that a high priority, especially in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects, and having a universal appreciation of that - that is a challenge and I'm not sure it's recognised," he says in an interview with The Business Times.

This may not seem like a topic that would be top of the agenda, or is even of high relevance, for someone who sits comfortably at the helm of a global multinational and who won't have to worry too much about retraining himself for a new role. But as Mr Cruickshank points out, the issue of education and skills affects not only Deloitte but all of its clients. "Business can only succeed and do well if the communities and societies they operate in do well. And by that I mean there have to be stable societies, well-educated workforces, rule of law, the supply of basics like clean water and clean air and so on. So businesses …