SDS is Scotland’s national skills agency and aims to deliver the best outcomes for Scotland’s people, businesses and the economy. 

Skills Planning

The Skills Planning Model is core to SDS’s role and purpose. It shows how we aim to improve the response of education, training and careers services to the needs of industry and ensure that people have the best possible chance of succeeding in the world of work.

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Skills Alignment

SDS and the Scottish Funding Council are working on a programme of skills alignment. The vision is for an aligned skills service, matching skills provision with the needs of learners, employers and industry to drive sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

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COVID-19 Labour Market Insights

The restrictions on movement introduced to reduce the spread of Covid-19 have caused major disruptions to every sector of the economy and have had a significant impact on the labour market.

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Skills Investment Plans

Skills Investment Plans describe the skills challenges and opportunities across Scotland’s key sectors.

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Regional Skills Assessments

RSAs provide an agreed evidence base to help us and our partners plan future skills investment.

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Sectoral Skills Assessments

The Sectoral Skills Assessments (SSAs) look at current and future skills demand in the Key Sectors across Scotland.

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Skills Action Plan for Rural Scotland

The Skills Action Plan for Rural Scotland sets out our partnership approach to developing the skills and talent needed to make sure that Scotland’s rural economy and communities continue to flourish and grow.

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Skills 4.0

Technological and societal disruptions are coming at us thick and fast. Whilst we cannot predict the future, we can prepare for a future that is increasingly unpredictable.

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Gaelic Evidence Base

One of the high level aims of SDS’s Gaelic language Plan was to work in partnership with other public agencies to develop labour market information.

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