A SCOTLAND-WIDE campaign highlighting how a modern careers service is shaping the future workforce returns 10 to 14 November.
Scottish Careers Week, co-ordinated by Scotland’s skills agency, Skills Development Scotland (SDS), shines a spotlight on the partnership working across communities to help people and businesses thrive.
Under the banner of ‘Shape the Future’, this year’s campaign builds on the success of last year’s which saw 190 schools involved, 290 events and over 800 employers taking part across Scotland.
Set against a backdrop of economic and technological change, such as the shift to net zero and the growth of AI, Scottish Careers Week 2025 aims to spark imaginations, inspire career journeys, and help people shape their futures.
Launching the 2025 campaign, Higher and Further Education Minister Ben Macpherson, said: “Scottish Careers Week helps to showcase the range of industries that there are in Scotland, along with the training and support available to enable individuals of all ages to achieve their career goals and potential.
“The week is a chance for employers and careers teams to promote the exciting opportunities that there are across the country, and connect with the next generation of talent about the range of services available.
“Particularly in an ever-changing world, it is so important to recognise and build upon the benefits that Scotland’s careers services provide to individuals, employers, communities and the economy.”
SDS works with partners to offer an all-age careers service, with professionally qualified careers advisers in every state school in Scotland and operating from a network of community locations and SDS centres nationwide.
Head of Careers Information Advice and Guidance Operations at SDS, Dave McCallum, said: “Scottish Careers Week represents the perfect platform to showcase the community delivery, collaboration and innovation of careers services in every community in Scotland.
“We are excited to connect with more customers, strengthen partnerships, and celebrate our collective impact during the week and beyond.”
Scottish Careers Week showcases the power of collaboration(Image: SDS)
Connect with tomorrow’s talent
EMPLOYERS across Scotland are already seeing the benefits of getting involved.
Scottish Careers Week is a chance to spark inspiration, connect with young people, job changers and link with the wider community.
Jane Fraser, Chief Operating Officer at Roslin CT, based in Edinburgh, said: “Initiatives like Scottish Careers Week are vital for connecting our industry with the next generation of talent. It gives us a chance to showcase the exciting opportunities in life sciences, and to help young people see how their skills can shape real-world solutions.
“If you’re an employer, whether in STEM or beyond, Scottish Careers Week is a fantastic way to invest in the future of your workforce and your sector.”
Getting involved
SCOTTISH Careers Week aims to support teachers to bring careers into the classroom, with a wide range of resources available to use on the campaign page of the My World of Work website.
The campaign hub also has a range of support materials to help career professionals or employers keen to connect with future talent.
Skills Development Scotland and a range of partners will be running events during Scottish Careers Week in schools and community venues across the country, including careers fairs and online info sessions for all ages.
Pupils will also have the chance to hear from young people working in some of Scotland’s most important sectors in a new series of DYW Live inspirational online talks.
The programme of short, online sessions is organised in partnership by SDS, e-Sgoil and Education Scotland.
The sessions will be made available to watch on the DYW Live Scottish Careers Week page, with individuals in areas like engineering, health and social care, digital, tourism and science sharing their career journey and experience of work.
As the national organisation that connects employers with education, Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) will also be involved in a range of activities to support local schools.
DYW representatives and co-ordinators in schools will link up with other partners including SDS and employers to hold events like careers fairs and information sessions.
Schools and other campaign supporters organising activities and events can register them on the campaign hub events calendar. By joining this year’s campaign, supporters will be part of a national movement that’s inspiring career journeys, strengthening partnerships, and helping shape the skilled, resilient workforce Scotland needs for the future.
Visit www.myworldofwork.co.uk/scottish-careers-week to explore resources, register events, and be part of the movement shaping Scotland’s future workforce
‘Big and bold’ step to helping Scots gain digital skills
A NEW offer to help people across Scotland gain skills in a range of digital technologies has been launched.
The Digital Learning Initiative brings together training offered by AWS, Cisco, IBM, Microsoft and Salesforce to help people improve their digital skills.
Led by the Scottish Government in partnership with Skills Development Scotland (SDS), the initiative was launched by Business Minister Richard Lochhead at Scotland’s National Innovation Summit.
Richard Lochhead MSP(Image: SDS)
Mr Lochhead said: “The Digital Learning Initiative is a big and bold step towards empowering our citizens and businesses by making high-quality digital learning freely available to Scottish residents and small businesses.
“It is particularly fitting that the initiative is being launched during Scotland’s National Innovation Week given this initiative is the result of close collaboration between the public and private sectors.
“Only by working together can we build a more innovative and digitally confident Scotland, providing the skills and training needed to help ensure we remain one of the world’s leading innovation nations.”
The initiative provides free, accessible online courses covering subjects including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cyber Security, Software Development and Data Science.
It will also help employers to manage the skills needs in their workplaces, helping to boost productivity with the latest digital skills.
Head of Sector Development for Digital Technologies and Financial Services at SDS, Phil Ford, said: “The Digital Learning Initiative offers the opportunity for more people in Scotland to gain the skills they need to boost their careers and for businesses to capitalise on new technologies and improve their productivity.
“This offer aims to help unlock the potential of Scotland’s growing digital economy and shows the benefits that can be achieved by partnership working between tech employers and the public sector.
Anyone can access the full range of courses available via the dedicated page on Scotland’s careers website, My World of Work.
Adele Every, Managing Director of Cisco UK & Ireland Public Sector added: “Cisco is proud to be part of the initiative which closely reflects our long-standing commitment to build an inclusive digital future through the Cisco Networking Academy.
“We have the opportunity to contribute our global expertise and resources to cultivate a skilled, future-ready workforce, ensuring Scotland’s economic prosperity and competitiveness in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.”
Leon Butler, Chief Executive IBM UK and Ireland said: “Having helped millions globally develop new tech skills through our IBM SkillsBuild programme, IBM is delighted to collaborate with the Scottish Government to enhance digital skills for individuals and businesses. We look forward to continuing our long-term presence and support for Scotland as the initiative progresses.”
John Davies, Managing Director UK, Germany & International Organisations, Worldwide Public Sector, Amazon Web Services said: “To prepare the workforce for the future we need to address the growing need for digitally skilled talent across Scotland. We are delighted to support the Digital Learning Initiative and enable more learners to access free online cloud computing and AI training resources.”
Bijan Bedroud, SVP and Head of EMEA Public Sector, Salesforce added: “This initiative is a powerful example of how public and private sectors can collaborate to tackle the skills gap, providing access to training and upskilling in digital technologies that are the engine of productivity and growth in Scotland.”
Find out more at myworldofwork.co.uk/digital-learning
