Skills Investment Plan - Focus North

The increasing requirement for skills over the next 10 years due to the continuance of Dounreay and the establishment of new businesses and opportunities means the pace is relentless. This requires a proper skills strategy that looks at how the area can generate those skills and attract them in from outside.

Skills Development Scotland 

All will be affected by the growth of direct and indirect work opportunities from the Major Projects creating potentially attractive employment for their existing staff.

Creation and delivery of a Skills Investment Plan that addresses the following

• Coordination of currently fragmented provision
• Addressing current and future skills that are critical to the future economic success of the area
• Linking with Development of the Young Workforce
• Integrating with the North Highland College Offerings
• Integrating with the needs for attracting talent into the area
• Integrating with the Skills Development Scotland

North Highland College (including the Environmental Research Institute (ERI) and the Engineering Technology and Energy Centre (ETEC)) – upgrade of the main campus building.

Developing the Young Workforce

• Lead – Caithness Chamber of Commerce
• Detail – To develop better partnerships between employers and education providers to ensure that education focuses on employment and progression in learning, Modern Apprenticeships meet the needs of industry requirements and that young people leaving school and college are better prepared for the world of work. It has 4 core themes:
  • Boosting Employment and Work Experience
  • Developing Career and Employability Skills
  • Strengthening Education – Business Partnerships
  • Enhancing Curriculum Pathways

Recruit Caithness

• Lead – Caithness Chamber of Commerce
• Detail – Recruiting from outside the area to address skills gaps

Hi-hope

• Lead – Highland Council
• Detail – Jobs database

ScotGrad

• Lead – Highlands and Islands Enterprise
• Detail – Graduate placement programme