The new transferable skills app shifting defence focus from rank to ability
A new digital app launched by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is encouraging personnel to log their skills from the outside world, enabling defence to get to know the hidden talents within the workforce and make the most of them.
The Pan-Defence Skills Framework, or PDSF, enables individuals to evidence a variety of unique abilities from their past, from language skills to personal training qualifications, so defence can match the right people to the right jobs further down the line.
Until now, skills have either been flagged through word of mouth to immediate colleagues or completely ignored.
"The PDSF programme is applicable to Regulars, Reservists and Civil Servants all across defence," the programme's director Ruhi Singha explained to BFBS Forces News.
"Everyone across defence will be able to access their skills profile... via your mobile phone or via your specific defence device. It's as easy as logging on, scrolling through, looking for your skills, applying for those and then waiting to get validated by your 1RO, reporting officer, or your line manager.
"This is a common language that defence will be using going forward in how we identify, define, manage and deploy capability."
Brigadier Nick Mackenzie, Head of Talent, Skills Learning and Development, MOD, touched on some of the transferable skills the app is looking to identify within the defence workforce.
"Languages, for example, is a classic one. As a language speaker, the skills that I've got haven't necessarily been used and I think this is the key to unlocking that," he said.
Brig Mackenzie added that finding niche skills will enable defence to address cyber, data analytics and drone warfare.
While ranks will still remain, this scheme could help personnel progress – and help defence get the right people for the jobs at hand.
"I think this will start to benefit people, in a way perhaps we haven't done through a rank-based system. As an organisation we'll start to employ people, perhaps where they've been routinely based as an officer, we might see soldiers in those roles because they are specific to the skillset we need."
The recency of achievements is registered in the validation process – factoring in skill fade if experience or qualifications were obtained long ago.
Skill bundles will also be given to new personnel as they pass basic training.
While factors like salary outside of the forces continue to attract many, PDSF may help those looking from the outside in to discover work in defence.
"With reservists in particular this is a really big deal, because they have a plethora of experience from outside of defence, that will be incredibly useful," said Ms Singha.
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