Question reference: S6W-25489
- Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 12 February 2024
-
Current status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 9 March 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent action it has taken to ensure that the provision of traditional building skills (a) college courses and (b) apprenticeships is available across the south of Scotland.
Answer
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) continues to champion traditional skills and is working with stakeholders across the country to address traditional skills gaps to help ensure Scotland’s historic buildings can thrive as part of the country’s sustainable future.
Colleges are responsible for their own operational decisions, including course provision, as they are best placed to respond flexibly to emerging trends at local and regional level. Apprenticeships continue to be based on demand and Scottish Government work closely with Skills Development Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council to support those who are looking to take on apprentices.
Scottish Government has been exploring the workforce demand for skilled stonemasons through engagement with the stonemasonry short life working group led by HES. The working group was set up to look at stonemasonry and traditional skills provision in Scotland with a view to identifying sustainable models of stonemasonry training for future delivery, and they have since provided their report of findings and recommendations to Ministers for their consideration.
The former Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development and I met HES in recent months to discuss stonemasonry and we await their proposals to address the skills issues in the sector.