Having a workforce with the right skills will enable Highland business to forge ahead. With growth areas like tourism, creative industries, food and drink, not to mention energy and engineering, the future is bright for the north economy.
But the beautiful and vast region can sometimes make recruiting the right people with the right skills at the right time challenging.
Having the right skills within your business is essential in order to stay competitive and get ahead. It is particularly important for smaller businesses to invest time in this.
With funding available from Skills Development Scotland for workforce development and a dedicated employer engagement team to support with skills issues and guide employers through the various schemes and incentives available from the public sector, there has never been a better time to make this investment.
There are great examples of Highland businesses putting this resource to good use. Active Outdoor Pursuits, based in Newtonmore, has used Skills Development Scotland funding to increase their outdoor instructors’ skills – ensuring staff are of the highest standard and adding flexibility to what is on offer for customers. It allows the business to be more competitive and seize opportunities.
Modern apprenticeships are a great mechanism for businesses to grow their own talent and provide a means of moulding the person to the business, rather than the other way round.
With three Highland employers reaching the finals of Scotland’s Modern Apprenticeship Awards – Reid’s of Caithness, LifeScan Scotland and Capgemini – the area is obviously doing something right. Reid’s of Caithness (pictured) is a good example of how modern apprenticeships can be used to support business growth, while ensuring the workforce is trained to a high standard.
With over 60 occupational frameworks with everything from accountancy to wind turbine maintenance and an easy to use modern apprenticeship guide on Our Skillsforce, modern apprenticeships are an option for any business.
Skills Development Scotland can also help businesses identify skills gaps and through our new Skills for Growth Programme we can undertake a workforce analysis and create a people and training action plan aligned to your business objectives.
Information on all the support available to businesses from Skills Development Scotland and partner organisations can be found on Our Skillsforce, use the Skills Alert function or call the employer helpline, 0800 783 600, to be put in touch with a local adviser.
