Evaluation and Research

At Skills Development Scotland (SDS), we are committed to advancing knowledge to help us shape the future of Scotland’s Careers Information, Advice, and Guidance (CIAG) services and the Apprenticeship Programme.

We deliver high-quality research and insights across a range of customer groups, addressing key topics in relation to skills, employability and equality, diversity and inclusion. 

SDS conducts evaluations and research to support evidence-based decision-making, policy development, and service improvement. By exploring the experiences and aspirations of young people, PACE customers and apprentices we provide actionable insights to drive impact.   

The SDS Evaluation & Research team is committed to sharing the results of its large-scale research projects to develop common evidence to support continuous improvement in policy development and delivery. 

When using disaggregated results from these projects, whether that be by personal characteristics of respondents, geographical location, industrial sector or occupation, some caution must be exercised. Please read our guidance on Interpreting Disaggreated Data Responsibly here: Guidance - Interpreting Disaggregated Data Responsibly

If you have any questions or would like further guidance on interpreting disaggregated research and evaluation results, please get in touch with the Evaluation & Research team at Evaluation&Research@sds.co.uk.

PhD Research Collaboration 

Working in collaboration with the Scottish Graduate School of Social Science, Skills Development Scotland co-funds up to four PhD students each year to examine key questions in skills policy and Careers Information, Advice and Guidance (CIAG).  

These sources of evidence and intelligence provide us with an in-depth understanding of the voice of young people and the skills landscape.  

You can explore our latest research outputs and further detail on our PhD Programme here.