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.
The Career Review is the most comprehensive review of Scotland’s career services in a generation.
Find out more
View the 'Careers by Design' report and accompanying resources from the Career Review Programme Board.
The Career Review has co-designed ten evidence-based recommendations with young people and stakeholders.
Explore the extensive evidence base gathered on the Scottish Career System through commissioned reports and additional whitepapers.
The Programme Board will work with practitioners, stakeholders, career influencers and those with lived experience on the next stage of the Career Review.
Strategic Plan 2019-22
Annual Review 2020/21
SDS Publication Schedule
Modern Apprenticeship Frameworks
SDS Operating Plan 2021-22
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 schools, local authorities, colleges and developing young workforce.
To support Falkirk Council’s ‘Learning to Achieve’ strategy, the SDS Education team has worked with the Falkirk Raising Aspirations in STEM Education (RAiSE) Officers to produce a suite of professional learning for Primary and Secondary practitioners aligned to the Career Education Standard.
Read more
A Perth and Kinross partnership organisation is working with young people to ensure that no-one is left behind.
The approach supports partners in key sectors working with learners from an early age, throughout their education and beyond to identify, capture and articulate their skills development to help them enter and thrive in the future, uncertain and volatile world of work.
Like many local authorities, East Renfrewshire Council (ERC) has recruited a set of new DYW School Coordinators whose main aim is to bridge the gap between employers and education, aiming to help young people find fulfilling careers.
Skills Development Scotland’s Education team recently led a session with staff at Wallace Hall Primary to increase the teachers’ knowledge of the Career Education Standard and the resources available to help them meet the expectations of the standard.
SDS Professional Learning for School Coordinators