We provide a wealth of information on how skills can drive growth and opportunities in Scotland’s sectors and regions. Find out what we, and our partners, are doing to bring these plans to life.
Our Skills Investment Planning approach
Through Skills Investment Planning, we aim to bring skills demand and supply closer together.
We contribute to a vibrant economy by supporting individuals to develop the skills industry needs. And, we support sectors and regions to make best use of the people, skills and resources available.
The first stage was building Skills Investment Plans (SIPs). SIPs describe the skills challenges and opportunities across Scotland’s key sectors. They give a picture of the economic and labour market situation, trends in skills and qualification supply and employers’ perspectives on the big skills issues affecting sector growth.
On behalf of the Scottish Government, we worked with Industry Leadership Groups and other key industry players to develop these plans. They were created through a process of labour market and skills supply research and analysis, industry consultation and action planning with industry and partners across Scotland’s education and skills system.
Each SIP is tailored to the needs of the sector. We also ensure that SDS services for individuals and employers line up with the SIP recommendations. With the plans now in place, we’ll continue working with industry and partners to carry out the actions and monitor progress.
Regional Skills Investment Plans
We’ve now extended this approach to include Regional Skills Investment Plans (RSIPs), which recognise the diverse needs of regions across Scotland. This work builds on Regional Skills Assessment data to take account of the particular challenges, opportunities and drivers at regional level and present a partnership response to these.
To date RSIPs have been published for Highlands and Islands , Glasgow City Region, Tay Cities , Aberdeen City and Shire , Edinburgh and South East Scotland and the South of Scotland . Work is currently underway in Ayrshire.
22 October 2019
Skills Action Plan
Skills Action Plan for Highlands and Islands - 2019-2023
PDF 8849 Kb
23 August 2019
Skills Investment Plans
Regional Skills Investment Plan - Tay Cities Region
PDF 5974 Kb
20 June 2019
Skills Investment Plans
Regional Skills Investment Plan for the South of Scotland
PDF 5780 Kb
10 June 2019
Skills Action Plan
Skills Action Plan for Rural Scotland: 2019-21 - Summary report
PDF 2572 Kb
22 March 2019
Skills Investment Plans
Skills Investment Plan for Scotland's Historic Environment Sector
PDF 9392 Kb
11 May 2018
Skills Investment Plans
Skills Investment Plan for Scotland's Life and Chemical Sciences Sector
PDF 4440 Kb
12 January 2018
Skills Investment Plans
Skills Investment Plan For Scotland’s Early Learning and Childcare Sector
PDF 3257 Kb
23 March 2017
Skills Investment Plans
Skills Investment Plan: Prospectus for Scotland's early learning and childcare sector
PDF 1532 Kb
19 January 2017
Skills Investment Plans
Skills Investment Plan for Scotland's Food & Drink Sector
PDF 3424 Kb
8 November 2016
Skills Investment Plans
Skills Investment Plan for Scotland's Financial Services Sector
PDF 2400 Kb
29 September 2016
Skills Investment Plans
Skills Investment Plan for Scotland's Tourism Sector
PDF 3459 Kb
14 August 2015
Skills Investment Plans
Skills Investment Plan for Scotland's Engineering Sector
PDF 1508 Kb
6 October 2017
Skills Investment Plans
Skills Investment Plan For Edinburgh and South East Scotland
PDF 2932 Kb
26 June 2015
Skills Investment Plans
Skills Investment Plan for Scotland's Creative Industries Sector
PDF 1897 Kb
23 March 2015
Skills Investment Plans
Skills Investment Plan for Scotland's Energy Sector
PDF 879 Kb
11 March 2015
Skills Investment Plans
Skills Investment Plan for Scotland's ICT and Digital Technologies Sector
PDF 1769 Kb
2 March 2015
Skills Investment Plans
Skills Investment Plan for Scotland's Construction Sector
PDF 1185 Kb
11 September 2014
Skills Investment Plans
Skills Investment Plan for Highlands and Islands
PDF 1933 Kb