Skills Development Scotland (SDS) () is the national skills agency of Scotland. It is an
executive non-departmental public body
In the United Kingdom, non-departmental public body (NDPB) is a classification applied by the Cabinet Office, Treasury, the Scottish Government, and the Northern Ireland Executive to public sector organisations that have a role in the process of na ...
of the
Scottish Government
The Scottish Government (, ) is the executive arm of the devolved government of Scotland. It was formed in 1999 as the Scottish Executive following the 1997 referendum on Scottish devolution, and is headquartered at St Andrew's House in ...
.
History
Created on 1 April 2008, SDS is a merger of former organisations and services which delivered skills related services across Scotland.
The former organisations or services that now make up SDS are:
* Careers Scotland
* Elements of
Scottish Enterprise
Scottish Enterprise () is a non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government which encourages economic development, Business, enterprise, innovation, international and investment agency, investment in business. The body covers the eastern ...
's skills function
* Elements of
Highlands & Islands Enterprise's skills function
* Scottish University for Industry (learndirect Scotland, learndirect Scotland for business, ILA Scotland and
The Big Plus)
* Training for Work
* Skillseekers
* Modern Apprenticeships
* Graduate Apprenticeships
In 2010, the agency found itself facing funding cuts of more than £20million and needing to find 125 voluntary redundancies, one tenth of its workforce.
Structure
Skills Development Scotland has a presence in most major towns across Scotland.
The Big Plus
The Big Plus is an awareness raising campaign in Scotland targeting adults who might be unable to achieve their aspirations due to a lack of literacy and/or numeracy skills. Formerly part of the Scottish University for Industry, it is now part of Skills Development Scotland.
Adults who respond to the media promotion are put in touch with a local learning provider where they are invited to participate in a program of personal, dedicated learning activities at a local centre. The program aims to help participants reach a level of skills that will enable them to actively engage, with confidence, in personal, family, community and work life. Learning programs are provided by Scottish
local authorities
Local government is a generic term for the lowest tiers of governance or public administration within a particular sovereign state.
Local governments typically constitute a subdivision of a higher-level political or administrative unit, such a ...
and are free to resident applicants.
References
External links
*
The Big Plus
2008 establishments in Scotland
Career and technical education
Career development in the United Kingdom
Business in Scotland
Executive non-departmental public bodies of the Scottish Government
Government agencies established in 2008
Organisations based in Glasgow
Training organizations
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