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Colleges Scotland Comment on Advisory Group on Economic Recovery Report

Shona Struthers, Chief Executive of Colleges Scotland

Commenting on the recommendations within the Scottish Government’s Advisory Group on Economic Recovery report, which has been published today (Monday), Shona Struthers, Chief Executive of Colleges Scotland, said:

“We welcome this report which makes it clear that the college sector has a vital role to help stimulate economic recovery through upskilling, reskilling the workforce, and providing people with valuable employability skills as well as assisting specific economic sectors which have been badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In addition to having a key role in reviving Scotland’s economy, colleges will continue to deliver on the Scottish Government’s social inclusion agenda and do everything we can to protect those who are most disadvantaged by the economic downturn. The report also urges the Scottish Government and Scottish Funding Council to protect the college and university sectors from the financial pressures they face.

“There is merit in the advisory group’s recommendation that a Scottish Jobs Guarantee Scheme is established, which would safeguard employment and access to training for 16-25-year-olds for two years. It is pleasing to note the report’s focus on the importance of apprenticeships and the Flexible Workforce Development Fund – which through successful delivery by colleges has added clear value to the fund – as the sector is keen to work with the Scottish Government and its agencies to develop an industry-approved pre-apprenticeship scheme to minimise COVID-19-related disruption to the skills pipeline.

“The report also calls for a more aligned tertiary education, skills and research system, and the college sector’s response to this is that we are committed to working collectively with the wider tertiary skills system to create sustainable success for individuals, communities and businesses across Scotland.”


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