The COVID-19 pandemic is, predictably, changing lives around the world – both in the short term and, almost inevitably, in the longer term as well. The way we live may never be quite the same again and, while that may seem daunting, it also represents an opportunity for savvy students to get ahead of the game and put themselves in the best possible position to take advantage when we get back to a semblance of normality.
Ways of doing things will change. The working world will have learnt lessons from this period of lockdown and businesses will be left with no alternative to alter their standard practices.
The days of travelling hundreds, sometimes thousands, of miles for a straightforward business meeting are surely numbered. Why spend valuable time and money on travel and transport when a video call can be equally effective?
With more people than ever before embracing the concept of home working, office space will suddenly not be the necessity it perhaps seemed pre-coronavirus.
But while travel and commercial property industries may struggle, others will thrive. We have put together a list of five areas we think will see an upturn in fortunes in the next few years, all of which are available to study right here at Northampton College.
So, if you want to get ahead, consider a career in one of these five industries and see if we can help you put yourself at the front of the queue when it comes to finding the next generation of workplace-ready employees.
- Health & Social Care: There is no doubt who the heroes of coronavirus are – our doctors, nurses and carers have never been held in such high esteem and the NHS has never felt more important. Countless lives have been saved due to the actions of frontline health workers and this traditionally poorly-paid profession is surely due some much-deserved recognition.
- Engineering: One of the areas the UK been found wanting amid this outbreak is our lack of vital equipment such as ventilators. Thanks to the innovation of companies such as Brixworth-based Mercedes AMG, engineering firms have come to the rescue. This highly complex and skilled industry is the problem-solving heartbeat of British ingenuity.
- Digital Skills: The UK economy is, of course, taking a hit because of coronavirus but those companies who have proven themselves to be agile enough to pivot to a digital-first model during this crisis are well-placed to push on post COVID-19. Having a fully-functioning, user-friendly e-commerce website will be crucial for retailers, while social media will continue to evolve as the go-to choice for engaging with customers. Experts in coding, programming and games design will all be in demand. Our new Digital Academy, due for completion in 2021, will be the perfect place to craft your skills.
- Hair & Beauty: If lockdown has taught us one lesson it's that we need someone we can trust to cut our hair. Some things friends and family can make a passable attempt at, but giving you a fresh trim isn't one of them. Whether it's colouring, styling or nail art, expect there to be a demand for qualified hair and beauty specialists when we emerge from the coronavirus doldrums and need to be looking our best for that first Big Night Out.
- Motor Vehicle: With doorstep deliveries replacing the weekly shop and the daily commute involving the few steps from bedroom to kitchen, our cars have been enjoying a much-needed rest. Journeys are down, petrol usage has fallen through the floor and it's left many families wondering, ‘do we really need two cars?' The car industry is likely to go through a period of reflection as peoples' habits change and it's entirely possible that sales of new cars will fall, with people preferring instead to keep their existing cars for longer. That means good mechanics could be increasingly sought after, with drivers taking on a ‘make do and mend' attitude rather than splashing the cash on the latest wheels.
So there you have it. Our list of five industries we think can flourish once we have finally seen the back of COVID-19, all of which are available to study right here at Northampton College. Any of those sound good to you? Come along to an Open Event when we're back up and running to find out more.
