Skills shortage

I noted with interest the comments by Jim Brown relating to the challenges faced by the renewable energy sector in addressing skills shortages (Government & Public affairs, 3 June).

Skills development is vital to the productivity and sustainable economic growth of Scotland and it is key that we maintain investment to deliver a skilled workforce. The concerns raised by Mr Brown, relating to current and potential skills shortages, are the same as those across a number of sectors, and we are working closely with the Scottish Government to address these.

There is a need to enable employers to better understand how to navigate the skills system and to ensure that funding for employers, individuals, colleges and universities is targeted on sectors where there is an economic priority and high participation rate. In many sectors, we face the additional challenge of an ageing workforce and there is the need to focus on upskilling and gain new entrants in those areas.

It is working with employers, college and universities that will ensure we are able to not only fill the skills gaps in the market today, but are also able to forecast and fill the skills gaps of the future. Simply increasing the supply of skills without the corresponding demand is not the answer, wasting time, money and effort.

JACQUI HEPBURN

Director, Alliance of Sector Skills, Scotland

Castle Street,

Edinburgh