Skills Development Scotland
Skills Development Scotland (SDS) wants to maximise Scotland’s sustainable economic growth by unlocking the potential of the country’s greatest asset – our people.
SDS delivers comprehensive information, advice and guidance for careers and learning and helps employers to become more successful through the skills development of their workforce.
They are keen to develop meaningful partnerships at national, regional and local levels, driving forward real, positive and sustained change in Scotland’s skills performance
The organisation was established by bringing together Learndirect Scotland, Careers Scotland and the main skills and training interventions of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
More information is available from Skills Development Scotland
Support for businesses
As one of the Government Economic Strategy’s key sectors SDS is committed to supporting skills development within the sector to assist with the achievement of the Tourism Framework for Change targets.
SDS supports the development and implementation of the Tourism Framework for Change Skills Strategy which focuses on the following areas.
- Improving the appeal of the sector, attracting new talent and addressing skills shortages
- Improving skills
- Customer service
- Management and leadership
SDS also works closely with the sector by:
- supporting research into best practice in skills utilisation and labour market information
- identifying and quantifying the skills needs of the sector, developing demand led solutions, articulating and promoting sector specific career opportunities like Modern Apprenticeships and the Employer Recruitment Incentive
- promoting the use of Individual Learning Accounts and the Flexible Training Opportunities Fund within the sector
- simplifying the skills and learning system for employers and making it more demand-led
- supporting specific tourism skills initiatives and projects (national and local) where they meet the priorities identified within the Tourism Framework for Change Skills Strategy
- raising awareness of career opportunities within the sector to individuals through face to face guidance sessions and the online My World of Work resource
- developing information and advice services for employers
More information is available from Skills Development Scotland