A recent independent review of the skills has been published which makes a series of recommendations and suggested major structural reforms to the current way skills are delivered to prepare for economic transformation and enable Scotland to prosper with a skilled workforce as outlined in the National Strategy for Economic Transformation (NSET).
James Withers’ Independent Review of the Skills Delivery Landscape recommendations include:
- Scottish Government should take full responsibility for national skills planning in-house
- Create a new single funding and delivery body, bringing together key skills functions from Skills Development Scotland (SDS), the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and perhaps the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS)
- An integral part of business development and planning by the various enterprise agencies should involve workforce planning
- SQA, and the new qualifications body which will replace it, to oversee the development and accreditation of all publicly funded post-school qualifications with a parity of esteem for academic and vocational qualifications
- Skills Development Scotland to be reformed to create a new body specifically for careers advice and education
Some of the issues raised in the report are helpful for SMEs, particularly those in the resource management sector, including:
- We need skills solutions and services that respond to the needs of all businesses, including SMEs and start-ups
- Clear, coherent and recognisable learning and training pathways and qualifications that are appropriate to the sector, occupation or profession that they serve with clear, consistent and relevant naming structures which state the level and type of learning.
- Qualifications and awards that more deeply embed work-integrated learning or employability-related skills development in recognition that the destination for most people undertaking learning and training will be the workplace.
- Clear consistent opportunities for employer engagement and leadership that enable all types of businesses and industries to play a central role in shaping and guiding the provision and services in the system at every step – from standards and qualifications development to careers advice and guidance. Solutions and services that respond to the needs of all businesses, including SMEs and start-ups.
Minister for Further and Higher Education Graeme Dey said:
“This review is comprehensive and the direction of travel it points us towards is very helpful” he also indicated that it, “…. sets out a clear case for extensive change so that we have a lifelong education and skills system in place which serves the needs of learners, employers and our future economy.”
The next stage is for Scottish Government to take some time to fully consider Withers’ recommendations, which they are generally supportive of, and their practical implications.
SWITCH is actively working on how we can create Pathways to Progression to help employers, learners and colleagues navigate careers in the industry to and welcomes this report. Its general sense of direction will help the industry to recruit the right staff to enable it to grow. We will keep you posted on developments in the skills landscape as they arise.