Sponsorship at college
The Scottish Government should work with employers to identify ways of supporting, and perhaps incentivising, sponsorship schemes that will allow a greater number of Service Leavers and veterans to undertake college studies in conjunction with full time employment.
2019 SVC evaluation of status:
Partially implemented
2019 update provided by the Scottish Government:
The college sector now has the opportunity to participate in the Scottish Government’s £10 million Flexible Workforce Development Fund (FWDF). It supports employers to upskill and reskill members of their workforce through college training provision enabling them to adapt and grow. Employers can undertake training and development which will increase productivity, fill identified skills gaps, upskill and retrain the existing workforce. The fund has enabled employers to flex their training budgets to support a broader range of staff. In many cases, staff supported through this fund would otherwise not have had any other opportunities for workforce development support whilst in employment.
2020 SVC evaluation of status:
Implemented, but work should continue
2020 update provided by the Scottish Government:
The college sector now has the opportunity to participate in the Scottish Government’s £10 million Flexible Workforce Development Fund (FWDF). It supports employers to upskill and reskill members of their workforce through college training provision enabling them to adapt and grow. Employers can undertake training and development which will increase productivity, fill identified skills gaps, upskill and retrain the existing workforce. The fund has enabled employers to flex their training budgets to support a broader range of staff. In many cases, staff supported through this fund would otherwise not have had any other opportunities for workforce development support whilst in employment.