The Scottish Government this week announced a “refresh” of its skills strategy.

Although much of it is a continuation of the existing approach, placing colleges, universities and apprenticeships at the heart of the Government’s economic policies, the latest plans emphasise four priorities - empowering people, supporting employers, simplifying the skills system and strengthening partnerships between the public, private and third sectors.

The proposals include an action plan to improve leadership in the workplace; gaining a better understanding of the skills businesses need; developing a “skills gateway” for the key economic sectors; bringing together jobs centres and the skills agencies; and reforming the careers service.

Keith Brown, the Minister for Skills and Lifelong Learning, who launched the refreshed strategy at an engineering plant in Glasgow on Tuesday, said: “To accelerate growth and create a more successful country, Scotland must make more of the skills and talent that is available across the country.”