I am pleased to bring to the chamber this very practical debate, and I thank my Labour and cross-party colleagues for signing my motion, which allows us to discuss the value of developing skills partnerships in Scotland.
As I am sure we are all aware, skills partnerships can take many forms and are structured to a greater or lesser degree of formality. They all have in common the purpose of developing the skills of people who work in particular sectors through knowledge sharing, placements, courses or funding. In many cases, colleges or other educational institutions work alongside professional organisations to develop the skills of graduates or school leavers, which enables geographical sharing and in many cases avoids the duplication of courses.
Secure jobs with a fair wage are at the heart of our future. The development of skills partnerships is invaluable in helping to drive forward job opportunities, career development and transferable skills in all sectors, although the fair wage is, of course, also driven by Government commitments.
There are many different types of partnership that focus on the range of skills that are required in the working world. I am sure that members in the chamber will want to focus on particular areas, depending on their interests and the relevance to their constituencies.
I will give an overview of a selection of skills partnerships—not only existing partnerships, but those with potential, such as rural, financial and hospitality partnerships. I will also focus more closely on energy skills partnerships, on which a lot of good work has already been done and which hold great potential for our low-carbon future.
Members will be aware of the good work that is done by Skills Development Scotland, which works with a wide range of national and local partners to support people and businesses to develop and apply skills, helping them to reach their potential.
The ability to react to the changing structure of the economy, which is SDS’s stated aim, is essential for creating skills that are fit for purpose and a strong skills base across Scotland’s workforce in a number of sectors.
Through its skills investment plans, SDS works to ensure that future employment demands are met and to allow the economy to grow in a sustainable way. Sectors such as engineering, life sciences, tourism, finance and food and drink are all addressed by SDS’s investment plans. New College Lanarkshire, which has campuses throughout the area, is doing a fine job of developing skills through partnerships. As well as working alongside the University of Stirling to develop a potential degree programme in dental nursing, the college is working with SDS and the local authority on areas such as engineering, through the modern apprenticeship scheme on its Motherwell campus.
As a regional MSP for South Scotland and a member of the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee, I have a keen interest in rural affairs. A number of skills partnerships are aimed at developing skills in rural and farming sectors. Those partnerships will, I hope, help our young people so that they do not have to leave their communities. In Dumfries and Galloway, a project was launched recently to help young people to work in the dairy sector. That unique partnership, which has been created by Scotland’s Rural College, NFU Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway employment total access point and SDS, offers school leavers 12-week placements on local farms. As the college points out on its website,
“Host farmers will have the benefit of working with a young trainee, while the wider local dairy sector will benefit from an increase in ‘work ready’ individuals with references.”
We all know that people in the hospitality sector are often poorly paid and that there are poor career development paths. Skills partnerships can play a major role in ensuring that young people in particular can expand their skill sets and increase their employment options. The skills partnerships tend to be based on specific accredited courses. In Glasgow, young people who are still at school and who are looking to get into the hospitality business can take a course at the equivalent of standard grade, which is delivered in partnership with schools and a college. Such vocational courses give people an understanding of the various roles and responsibilities in the sector, from working in a kitchen to working front of house, and allow people to develop skills in communication, numeracy and problem solving.
The energy market can be organised in many ways, and it can be challenging for community groups to develop community energy plans. I have been working with Jen Ross from the University of Edinburgh and organisations that are active in community energy to develop a MOOC—for members who do not know, a MOOC is a massive open online course—on community energy, which could be classed as a skills partnership in itself.
My visit to Ayrshire College renewable energy department earlier this year, where I met lecturers and students, highlighted for me the great changes that have been happening in Scotland. All plumbing and electrical courses now include renewables awareness. There were roofs to fit solar systems on and turbines to allow students to develop maintenance skills. Ayrshire College is part of the energy skills partnership and works with the Crichton campus in Dumfries and others.
SDS and the energy skills partnership have done a great deal of work on energy. In August, at a meeting in Hamilton, I discussed the work that SDS is doing in the energy sector. I was encouraged to hear that a number of funding initiatives have been put in place to realise the Scottish Government’s ambition, which we all share, to create a low-carbon economy in Scotland and to give real strength to new jobs.
I was particularly encouraged by the work of energy skills Scotland, an arm of SDS that was established by the Scottish Government in partnership with industry. It is a way of simplifying access to a range of energy skills, resources and support across the public sector, and it involves collaborative relationships with academia, industry, skills stakeholders and the public sector. Energy skills Scotland quite rightly recognises the need for tailored courses. I hope that, through our discussion of such courses, we will raise awareness of the opportunities that exist for people who want to diversify their skill sets.
By promoting a number of career pathways for students, it is possible that, through the energy skills partnership, Scotland’s colleges can turn that sort of support into real job opportunities. That will also contribute to achieving the Government’s energy ambition and help us all to tackle climate change.
As an MSP for a largely rural region, South Scotland, I am aware of the challenges that face people who live in remote and inaccessible areas when it comes to accessing courses. There is significant potential for outreach programmes in that regard, and I hope that the cabinet secretary will comment on the potential for developing such programmes through Scottish Government support.
The issue might be logistically challenging, but it is imperative that it is addressed if we are to enable young people to stay in our communities. The Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee heard a lot about that this morning. I see that fellow members of the committee, such as Angus MacDonald, have remained here for the debate. Outreach programmes are an essential way forward.
I hope that the cabinet secretary will reassure us on the matter and, more broadly, tell us about skills partnerships that the Scottish Government intends to support, to improve job opportunities for young people, people who are transferring skills and people who are returning to work when maternity leave and other issues, such as mental ill health, have created a gap in their employment record. I hope that the cabinet secretary will comment in that regard.
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