Skills Action Plan for Rural Scotland: Process Evaluation published

A new report showing the progress made implementing the Skills Action Plan for Rural Scotland has been published by SDS and Scottish Government. The report looks at what’s been achieved across each of the plan’s priority areas and offers recommendations for the work that lies ahead.

Latest Rural and Sectoral Skills Assessments published

The latest Regional and Sectoral Skills Assessments are now available. The RSA reports provide a robust evidence base to inform future investment in skills, and the SSAs look at current and future skills demand in the key sectors across Scotland. The report for Rural Scotland covers 15 local authorities classified as mainly rural’ or ‘islands and remote rural’ by the Scottish Government’s Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services.  

Next generation farmers get together to map out future

The ‘Next Generation’ of farmers from across the UK have been gathering to jointly identify the barriers and opportunities to getting a start in the industry. The group provides a platform to promote the long-term advancement of both new entrants and young farmers while also raising awareness of the issues which face the next generation. 

DYW Live Farmers Week 2023

DYW Live Talk to A Farmer Week takes place between 6 - 10 February 2023. Over the course of the week DYW Live will have a host of different farmers from across the country on hand to talk to school pupils about how different foods are produced. Each talk slot will last 30 minutes and consist of a video from the farm followed by the opportunity for questions.  

Young Highland & Islands Entrepreneurs Join Business Support programme 

Twenty-two young business leaders from around the Highlands & Islands have become the latest to be accepted onto a year-long programme aimed at developing the next generation of entrepreneurs. IMPACT30 is led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and delivered by business skills training consultancy, Skillfluence. 

Nature-based jobs and skills: pathways for young people

NatureScot have published a revised Action Plan for Nature-based jobs and skills covering the period up to April 2023. The plan demonstrates how NatureScot, working with partners including SDS, will take steps to support the skills and jobs needed to put in place nature-based solutions so that Scotland meets net zero targets by 2045. The Action Plan signals NatureScot’s intention to engage with the Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan and contribute to the Just Transition.