I was interested to read that 60 per cent of Scotland’s business leaders would go back in time to boost workforce skills. The revelation comes from Bank of Scotland’s Business Barometer, which also stated the three main skills bosses would like to concentrate on are communication and collaboration, sustainability, and AI.
I think upskilling has often been an investment area that gets put on the backburner. Businesses concentrate on attracting the best talent to fulfil vacancies now, investing in staff perks and the tools they need to complete the job to a high standard.
But what about the future?
It’s not surprising to see AI on the list of key upskilling areas. Developments in AI over the past couple of years have the potential to change how companies operate and how they utilise their workforce. But it’s still uncharted territory for many, and staff need AI training to determine how it can best support the work they do.
The companies who will be ahead of competitors are those who already invest in upskilling, future‐proofing their business by preparing for the skills that their workforce will need as technology changes.
According to another business barometer survey from The Open University, more than half of Scottish businesses are currently experiencing a skills shortage and only a third have specific initiatives in place to recruit, retain or train under‐25s.
The Open University called for Scottish businesses to help “shape the future workforce” by investing in upskilling young people, as the next generation of workers are not being given the support it needs to plug the nation’s skills gaps.
So, it’s not just about helping our existing workforce to adapt but also looking ahead to what support the next generation needs to drive our businesses into the future.
Keeping on top of developments in technology to future‐proof your business is the obvious benefit of upskilling, but there are many more worth considering.
After all, it builds resilient teams who are more prepared to adapt, it helps staff feel valued and have opportunities to progress if their employer is investing in their skills, in turn increasing employee retention rates.
It can be costly to go through a recruitment process to hire for a particular skill versus upskilling the existing team you have. Hiring for particular skillsets can also limit the talent pool you have to choose from, rather than being able to look at other strengths people could bring to your business and upskill them in relevant areas.
The most wonderful example of a firm reassessing how they approach a skills gap is Babcock. The pandemic and Brexit posed meant it struggled finding the skilled workforce it needed, leading to the business changing its tactics.
It introduced a production support operative role in which staff receive training and gain experience before moving up into a more specialist role. Examples of people who have come up through the ranks include one of its cleaners and a 52-year-old baker and window fitter.
It just shows that changing your tactics and broadening what you’re looking for when hiring can really enrich your business and bring in talent you’d have never considered.
It can be daunting to know where to start if upskilling hasn’t been a key part of your business strategy until now, but there is support and guidance available for employers.
Skills Development Scotland has an employer hub to help businesses across Scotland with tools, advice and information to identify and manage their skills requirements.
There’s a Flexible Workforce Development Fund delivered by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) through colleges and The Open University which some businesses will qualify for. It provides tailored training opportunities to upskill and reskill employees and aims to support inclusive economic growth by addressing skills gaps and promoting lifelong learning.
Business Gateway is also an excellent place to start, with its website providing a guide on how to undertake a training needs analysis.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing – let’s hope Scottish businesses take heed and start prioritising upskilling if they aren’t already, or they might have to start powering up their DeLorean.
Side
Beer ban holding clubs back
Let’s talk business – and football. Ayr United’s small pilot lifting the alcohol ban at Somerset Park might sound trivial, but it could be worth millions for Scottish clubs if we get this right.
For over 40 years, our football stadiums have been dry zones, while rugby fans at Murrayfield sip away freely. Meanwhile, clubs across Europe, from Germany’s Bundesliga to Spain’s La Liga rake in serious cash from stadium bars and hospitality. Imagine what even a fraction of that would mean for Scottish clubs balancing tight books.
We can’t keep pretending we’re stuck in the 1980s. The old days of violence on terraces are gone. Our fans are more responsible, our security is tighter, and our stadiums are far better equipped. We already manage alcohol safely in other sports – why not football?
Ayr’s pilot is tiny with just 66 fans, five pints each, in a pop-up bar away from the pitch. It’s cautious, as it should be. But it’s a step towards a smarter, modern business model.
Scottish football is a £1.4 billion industry that deserves to compete on equal terms with European leagues. Responsible alcohol sales could unlock new hospitality packages, boost local suppliers, and help keep ticket prices affordable.
It’s time to move forward – and let Scottish football clubs grow their business like the rest of Europe.
It Makes Me Smile
Lift off for 2L bottles
Edinburgh Airport has finally lifted the 100 ml rule. Now we can take bottles up to two litres in our hand luggage.
It is already a huge hit, and more airports are likely to follow. No more fussing with tiny bottles or wasting money on mini toiletries like we are heading to a festival. Big bottles save time and cash.
Thanks to smart scanners, security stays safe and gets quicker. The scanner companies will make the initial money, but the airports will soon follow suit as people lose their learned fear of breaking the 100 ml rule.
It’s great to see Edinburgh airport open for business, and bigger bottles, just in time for the summer rush!
It Makes Me Cry
Despite all the CalMac dramas in recent years, it’s sad to hear about Ferguson Marine struggling.
Scotland built ships the world sailed on. Now one of the last survivors cries out for help.
We’ve got proud and skilled workers ready to build ferries, wind-farm vessels, and more. However, without proper investment the order books stay empty.
As I often repeat here, businesses need certainty, not chaos. Ferguson needs to convince investors that it can thrive, not just a lifebuoy to survive until next year.
We can’t let this yard sink. It’s more than jobs but heritage and symbolism; a jewel of our industrial past showing we can still make great machinery to be proud of, even if we can’t compete on scale.
