Skills Development Scotland (SDS) is the national skills agency of Scotland. It is an
executive non-departmental public body
In the United Kingdom, non-departmental public body (NDPB) is a classification applied by the Cabinet Office, Treasury, the Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive to public sector organisations that have a role in the process of ...
of the
Scottish Government.
History
Created on 1 April 2008, SDS is a merger of former organisations and services which delivered skills related services across Scotland.
The former organisations or services that now make up SDS are:
* Careers Scotland
* Elements of
Scottish Enterprise
Scottish Enterprise is a non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government which encourages economic development, enterprise, innovation and investment in business. The body covers the eastern and central parts of Scotland whilst similar ...
's skills function
* Elements of
Highlands & Islands Enterprise
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE; gd, Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd 's nan Eilean) is the development agency for the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. is an executive non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government. Its role is to "hel ...
's skills function
* Scottish University for Industry (learndirect Scotland, learndirect Scotland for business, ILA Scotland and
The Big Plus
Skills Development Scotland (SDS) is the national skills agency of Scotland. It is an executive non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government.
History
Created on 1 April 2008, SDS is a merger of former organisations and services which ...
)
* Training for Work
* Skillseekers
* Modern Apprenticeships
In 2010, the agency found itself facing funding cuts of more than £20million and needing to find 125 voluntary redundancies, one tenth of its workforce.
Structure
Skills Development Scotland has a presence in most major towns across Scotland.
The Big Plus
The Big Plus is an awareness raising campaign in
Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to ...
targeting adults who might be unable to achieve their aspirations due to a lack of literacy and/or numeracy skills. Formerly part of the Scottish University for Industry, it is now part of Skills Development Scotland.
Adults who respond to the media promotion are put in touch with a local learning provider where they are invited to participate in a program of personal, dedicated learning activities at a local centre. The program aims to help participants reach a level of skills that will enable them to actively engage, with confidence, in personal, family, community and work life. Learning programs are provided by Scottish
local authorities
Local government is a generic term for the lowest tiers of public administration within a particular sovereign state. This particular usage of the word government refers specifically to a level of administration that is both geographically-loca ...
and are free to resident applicants.
References
External links
*
The Big Plus
2008 establishments in Scotland
Career and technical education
Business in Scotland
Executive non-departmental public bodies of the Scottish Government
Government agencies established in 2008
Organisations based in Glasgow
Training organizations
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