- Attracting skilled workers from the rest of the UK
Industries such as life sciences, renewables, and the space
sector will be the focus of a new programme to attract a more
skilled workforce to Scotland.
As part of a priority action in the National Strategy for
Economic Transformation to meet skills gaps so employers can take
advantage of business opportunities, Business Minister has chaired the first meeting
of the Industry Advisory Group for rUK Talent Attraction.
The Group will help inform a programme to recruit and retain
workers from the rest of the UK. This also supports a Programme
for Government commitment to develop a Talent Attraction and
Migration Service to bring in skilled workers and help them to
make Scotland their home.
Mr McKee said:
“Scotland needs to attract more working age people to meet the
needs of key sectors, to raise competitiveness and to ensure the
workforce continues to be a positive factor in inward investment.
“This Industry Advisory Group will explore how best to shape a
talent attraction programme which can expand Scotland’s talent
pool at all levels, to give employers the skills pipeline needed
to take advantage of opportunities, and ultimately benefit our
economy.
“To become a competitive career destination, Scotland must match
the efforts of other countries with similar challenges and ensure
that we offer a high quality service of co-ordinated support to
attract and retain workers and their families.”
Director of Industry and Enterprise at Skills Development
Scotland Gordon McGuinness said:
“An inclusive, resilient and skilled talent pool is central to
Scotland meeting its economic ambitions, and SDS is committed to
working with businesses so they can develop the workforce
required to drive innovation, entrepreneurial thinking and
productivity.
“The needs of business must lie at the heart of this approach.
This new group will make an important contribution to enhancing
partnership working and creating a talent attraction programme
that strengthens and complements the existing skills support
available through SDS and its partners.”
Background
The Industry Advisory Group will initially focus on ‘high value’
sectors, and occupations within those sectors, as a sub-set of
the wider Population Strategy, to increase inward investment,
stimulating economic growth and making Scotland a more attractive
proposition for anyone to move here.
Priority growth sectors which will create jobs and bring overall
benefits to Scotland’s regions and wider economy include life
sciences, technology/fintech, advanced manufacturing – mechanical
and electronics, financial services, space, and renewables.
Other sectors of the economy which are proactively seeking to
attract talent are already supported by a range of activity
across Scottish Government and the wider public sector, including
actions within the Population Strategy and the NHS talent
attraction campaign.
