We Don’t Have A Talent Shortage – We Have An Opportunity Shortage
As the UK employment landscape continues to shift, Groundwork’s Deputy Director of Employment and Skills, Jon Matthews, believes that the problem isn’t a lack of talent; it’s a system that fails to see it.
As he begins his new role at Groundwork CLM, he believes that we need to stop designing services for people and start building them with them.
Creating Opportunities and Building Futures
Joining Groundwork CLM as Deputy Director for Employment & Skills feels like coming home to the work that inspires me most, in creating opportunities that help people build futures filled with purpose, pride and possibility.
For as long as I’ve worked in this sector, I’ve believed that employment and skills are more than just jobs. They’re about confidence, identity, belonging and the freedom to shape your own path. My values are simple: listen deeply, design with people and not for them, and build systems that recognise every individual as talented and capable.
By working together across sectors, we can create smarter, more inclusive pathways and inspire young people with role models, experiences and opportunities that unlock their ambition.
Opening Doors
I’ve seen the barriers people face up close: systemic challenges, personal circumstances, and environments that hold potential back. That’s why I’ve spent my career developing programmes that open doors, whether leading the National Citizen Service and watching thousands of young people grow into their confidence, or working within Violence Reduction to help young people from underrepresented communities reconnect with opportunity and safety. Those experiences have convinced me that when we invest in people’s strengths, everything changes.
A Shifting Landscape
Across the UK, the employment and skills landscape is shifting. Skills gaps are widening. Young people feel disconnected from traditional routes. Experience is too often valued over potential. Fast‑growing sectors don’t yet reflect the diversity of our communities. And digital transformation is reshaping work faster than anyone expected.
But I don’t believe the UK has a talent shortage. I believe we have an opportunity shortage and that’s something we can change.
Creating Pathways
In my role, I’ll be focused on building a system that allows people to succeed on their own terms. That means creating pathways that value lived experience as much as qualifications, co‑designing services with local communities, and supporting people into work that feels meaningful, not just manageable. It means shaping new routes for underrepresented groups and creating environments where employers see the power of potential.
By working together across sectors, we can create smarter, more inclusive pathways; champion employers who embrace fresh thinking; align skills to real labour market needs; and inspire young people with role models, experiences and opportunities that unlock their ambition.
Workplaces that thrive
For me, success isn’t just measured in job outcomes. It’s seen in people who feel confident, capable and valued. It’s communities where talent is recognised and nurtured. It’s workplaces that thrive because they reflect the diversity and creativity of the world around them. It’s individuals who wake up excited about the future they’re building and not just the job they’re doing.
I’m excited for what lies ahead. The challenges are real, but so is the opportunity to build something better, something fairer, more inclusive and rooted in the strengths of the people we serve.
Building Lives
Together, we can create an employment and skills eco-system that don’t just help people find work, but help them build lives that feel meaningful, hopeful and full of possibility.
Lets Work Together
Now is the time to work differently. If you’re a local authority, referral partner or funder committed to creating more inclusive, effective employment and skills pathways, I’d welcome the opportunity to collaborate. Together, we can design programmes that truly reflect the needs and strengths of our communities, unlock untapped potential and deliver lasting impact.
If you’d like to explore how we can work together, please get in touch: