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.
View our detailed timeline charting the development of the Career Review with key objectives and delivery timeframes.
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We're working with the Programme Board members to achieve the key objectives of the Career Review.
Discover the evidence gathered so far which is helping to drive the next stages of the Career Review.
Individuals and stakeholders will have a chance to get involved in the Career Review through surveys and a series of SDS led Living Labs.
Strategy highlighting the role that career education, information, advice and guidance (CIAG) services in Scotland can play in helping to address future skills demands and deliver inclusive growth.
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.
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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