Skills Development Scotland (SDS) is Scotland’s national skills body. We contribute to Scotland’s sustainable economic growth by supporting people and businesses to develop and apply their skills. We work with our partners to provide services that deliver the very best outcomes for Scotland’s people, businesses and the economy.
Skills Development Scotland (SDS) works proactively with companies across the country to support employers to make the most of apprenticeships.
In this Corporate Plan for the 2019–2022 we set out the first stage of how we will enable people, mobilise employers and influence the skills system.
Find out more
To ensure Scotland’s retains a skilled workforce, we are working in with others to chart out a vision we are calling Scotland 2035 – A Human Future.
Discover real examples of the impact our work has on people, businesses and the Scottish learning and skills system in our strategic plan case studies.
Find out how we're working with other enterprise and skills agencies.
Looking to read our full Strategic Plan?
A summary document for our Strategic Plan 2019-22.
Strategic Plan 2019-22
Annual Review 2018-19
SDS Publication Schedule
Modern Apprenticeship Frameworks
SDS Operating Plan 2019-20
We work with a wide range of national and local partners to improve, align and integrate our services for customers.
Our web service, offering expert information and advice on careers, that's free to access for any individual - wherever they are in their learning or working life.
Our online service for Scottish apprenticeships. Find current vacancies and information on how to become an apprentice, as well as employer support on recruiting apprentices.
Our Skillsforce helps employers to locate and access local support, from advice to HR and funding - alongside information to help businesses engage with education.
Our web service which helps parents and carers support their children to make career decisions, guided by information on the future world of work.
Developed in collaboration with industry, Digital World promotes careers in Scotland's digital technologies sector.
Read about the experiences of some of our partners on how the 16+ Data Hub works in practice.
A Local Authority is using the 16+ Data Hub in an innovative way to strategically plan services for young people.
Read Aberdeen City Council's case study
Information sharing is helping the area's young people boost their prospects in the world of work and training.
Read North Lanarkshire's case study
How the 16+ Data Hub is making a difference to young people in the area.
Read Aberdeenshire Council's case study
Information sharing is helping target resources for learners including vulnerable students.
Read Ayrshire College's case study
Joe Bodman explains the far-reaching benefits and challenges of data sharing.
Read Moray Council's case study
Schools in West Lothian are using data sharing to help shape the future for the area's young people.
Read West Lothian's case study
Information sharing is a powerful tool for any local authority committed to supporting young people as they leave school for training, study or work.
Read Inverclyde Council's case study
Information sharing is helping one forward-thinking local authority support young people leaving care.
Read East Ayrshire Council's case study
Being able to help students with learning difficulties sooner and more effectively could be a key benefit of information sharing.
Read South Lanarkshire College's case study
Group to ensure that colleagues across the sector and SDS understand and articulate how information sharing can support learner journeys.
Short Life Working Group's case study
Modern Apprentice success story Angela Wilson, explains why she would encourage others to choose a modern apprenticeship.
Read Angela Wilson's case study
Supporting young people who might otherwise miss out on valuable training and learning opportunities is the key aim of information sharing.
Department for Work and Pensions case study
Helping young people find work, training or further study after leaving school is a key benefit of the 16+ Data-Hub.
Read West Dunbartonshire Council's case study
Perth and Kinross Council is working closely with SDS to use data sharing to create more opportunities for young people.
Read Perth Council's case study
Develop existing partner links by supporting students more effectively from an earlier stage in their learning journey.
Read Edinburgh College's case study
Secondary schools embracing information sharing will help local authorities shape the services of the future.
Read the Borders Council's case study
Creating more opportunities for young people is at the heart of information sharing.
Read Falkirk Council's case study
Helping all young people in East Lothian find work, training or further study after school is a key benefit of the 16+ Data-Hub.
Read East Lothian Council's case study
