The
Scottish Skills Fund was established in
April 2001 to assist the emerging
Skills for Business Network to deliver
projects in Scotland which identified the skills and
training needs of sectors.
The Scottish Skills Fund is a fund totalling £0.5m per
year delivered and managed by the Scottish Executive's
Skills for Life and Work Division. The
Fund's aim was to finance small projects run by
Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) and other
sector skills bodies in Scotland which identified the
skills and training needs of industry sectors and promoted
effective workforce development. The Fund also supports the
Executive's aim to increase Scotland's productivity and
competitiveness by ensuring every Scot is ready for the
jobs of tomorrow.
The
Scottish Managers Group, which consists of
the Scottish managers from each of the Sector Skills
Councils, approached the Scottish Executive in June 2004
regarding a collaborative project entitled "Promoting
Workplace Learning" which aims to increase the level of
employer engagement in skills development in Scotland.
Scottish Ministers agreed in November
2004 that the project, subject to certain conditions,
warranted the support from the Scottish Skills Fund in the
periods 2005/6 and 2006/7. The Scottish Managers Group have
also applied for European Structural Funds matched-funding
support for the project and have received confirmation that
this has been successful.
A Steering Group has been established to
oversee the Project. The membership of the Steering Group
includes Jack Perry (Chief Executive, Scottish Enterprise),
Iain MacMillan (Director, CBI Scotland), Grahame Smith
(Deputy General Secretary, STUC), John Anderson (Chief
Executive, Entrepreneurial Exchange), John Downie (Press
& Parliamentary Spokesperson, Federation of Small
Businesses), Roger McClure (Chief Executive, Scottish
Funding Council for F&HE) and Anton Colella (Chief
Executive, SQA).
The Scottish Executive will be working closely with the
Project Management Group as the project develops.