National Transition Training Fund (NTTF): year 1 report

Strand 2 – Sectoral Support

Strand 2 broadened the scope of NTTF to support a range of sectors affected by Covid-19, with a range of private, third and college training provision offered. While delivery of Strand 1 began in October 2020, Strands 2 and 3 were launched the following month.

The Skills Delivery Team at the Scottish Government worked closely with sectoral policy colleagues, Scottish Enterprise and SDS to ensure that projects under Strand 2 aligned with labour market intelligence and had the potential to contribute to Scotland's economic recovery. Providing flexible training opportunities was a key objective and, as such, many of the courses were deliverable online.

Overall, Strand 2 supported 3,137 individuals across a range of sectors. Take-up was much more positive in Strands 2 and 3 of NTTF, which suggests that when provision is targeted at particular sectors with skills or labour shortages, demand for support increases. Certain sectoral projects, like the tourism and hospitality project, which were driven by an industry body and tailored to the needs of the sector, delivered significantly higher numbers than anticipated.

In Strand 2, the Scottish Government worked with a wide range of delivery partners across sectors, such as LANTRA, Screen Scotland, the Hospitality Industry Trust (HIT) Scotland and the Scottish Tourism Alliance. Delivery partners were responsible for the gathering of statistical data relevant to a wide range of project outcomes. As each project differed in ambition, reach, and outcomes, reporting has been done at a project level, rather than across the whole Strand.

Sectors Impacted by Covid-19

Tourism and Hospitality

To respond to the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on the tourism and hospitality sector, the Tourism & Hospitality Talent Development Programme, led by SDS and delivered by the Scottish Tourism Alliance and Hospitality Industry Trust (HIT) Scotland, was implemented in Strand 2. This programme aimed to target 'rising stars' within the sector at risk of redundancy or reduced working hours as a result of the pandemic. Overall, 1,900 individuals started the programme. The course was delivered to tourism employees from across Scotland and across the range of tourism sub-sectors. Provision meant that the sector was able to respond to changing circumstances through delivering training opportunities for in-demand skills. A survey, completed by 1,552 of the participants, found that 98.5% of respondents were still working in the tourism and hospitality sector after completing the training.^[10]

Creative Industries

The Stove Network Creative Place Employability & Start-Up Programme, managed by SDS, was launched under NTTF to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic on creative practitioners in Dumfries and Galloway. The project consisted of a free digital programme of workshops, panel discussions, and online learning resources to support creative freelancers and small businesses with key skills for creative business development. Overall, 138 individuals were supported in the programme, from a total of 230 sign-ups. Project evaluation showed that the project succeeded in providing digital skills diversification as part of support needed in the Creative Industries during the pandemic. The project recruited a diverse cohort of participants.

In addition, Screen Scotland supported The Screen New Entrants Training Scheme (NETS) Changing Lanes project which was implemented to address two issues, namely the impact on the work of recently entered Theatre and Live Events practitioners by the Covid pandemic by assisting them to transfer their skills into the Screen sector through working as a trainee, and the demand for crew created by increasing production levels. Overall, 98 individuals have been engaged in various training programmes facilitated by the Changing Lanes project and supported at a time when the sector faced considerable challenges. In addition, NTTF supported 8 additional places on the long standing and highly respected NETS programme offering training and a paid work placement for participants on a high-end production for 6 months.

Aviation

To respond to the crisis that the pandemic sparked within the aviation industry, the Aviation Workforce Retention Project was established under NTTF, managed by Unite The Union through Scottish Union Learning. This project enabled employees within the aviation industry to upskill and protect their current job roles. Companies within the aviation sector whose employees were supported through the project included ICTS, FALCK, and Loganair. Overall, there were a total of 418 enrolments across a variety of courses.^[11] Participants received valuable training across a variety of subjects, including Sign Language, Employability Skills, and Customer Care. The project report confirmed that the training helped to reduce the risk of further redundancies in the sector.

Sectors with Opportunities for Growth

Digital Skills

To promote growth in the digital sector, the Digital Start Fund Digital Expansion project was launched, led by SDS. This programme aimed to assist those on low incomes or in receipt of benefits to gain digital qualifications and enter the labour market. Overall, 18 individuals commenced training and 14 completed with 9 proceeding to interview for a digital role. The programme has generated numerous examples of people moving from universal credit to jobs as junior software developers in major companies in the financial services sector.

The Digital Skills Catalyst Fund, delivered by a range of public sector bodies and led by SDS, aimed to support inward investment and globally trading businesses to develop and implement bespoke advancing digital skills training, where mainstream provision does not exist elsewhere. It also aimed to support the workforce to increase their advancing digital skills capability to align with emerging digital technologies. Overall, 4 employers and 38 individuals benefitted from valuable training during the pilot in 2021/22. All 38 individuals remain in employment. While 24 companies noted interest in the project during the pilot, indicating employer need, they were unable to engage and continue with the project in the timeline in which the fund operated.

Manufacturing

The 2020/21 Aerospace Diversification Training Support Programme, led by Scottish Enterprise, enabled 8 companies to respond to the immediate impact and longer-term risks brought about by the pandemic. The aim of the programme was to safeguard employment in Scotland by diversifying into neighbouring markets. The NTTF-funded course resulted in the up-skilling/cross-skilling of 355 employees. The success of the programme has led to the allocation of phase II NTTF funding.

Rural Industries

Seafood Transformation: Management Development: 4.0 Food & Drink was a collaborative project with Seafood Scotland, SDS, Scottish Enterprise, and Opportunity North East, which aimed to upskill and re-skill the workforce in the seafood sector with a focus on building the leadership capability of individuals across the industry with an ambition to grow their businesses and lead on transformational change. The project supported a total of 26 individuals, who benefitted from a management and leadership programme and support with 360-degree feedback and coaching. All 26 participants remain in employment. The project was delayed due the impact of Covid-19 and Brexit, however once underway, it exceeded the original project outputs.

Another project targeting rural industries was the Springboard for Rural Skills, led by Lantra Scotland. The project aimed to increase and diversify Scotland's training instructor network for land-based, aquaculture and other rural industries, supporting a safe, skilled and vibrant rural workforce and economy. At project closure, there were 30 active participants. The NTTF-funded project enabled the upskilling and reskilling of new entrants and career changers, including those impacted by redundancy, which has become increasingly common as a result of Covid-19, as well as helping support rural business diversification and resilience, Scotland's 'green recovery' and climate emergency response objectives. All gender, age, geographic distribution and diversity of 'skill set' targets were met or exceeded. The project also highlighted the potential for new instructors to help facilitate Women in Scottish Agriculture and Women in the Rural Economy Practical Training Fund investments (or similar skills interventions in the future).

A second project run by LANTRA was the Rural Springboard for Simulator. This involved the purchase of two forestry simulators placed in Dumfries and Galloway College and Inverness College School of Forestry. Overall, this project succeeded in supporting 102 individuals through training and will continue to increase training capacity in the two colleges in the future, with Inverness College School of Forestry noting it had doubled their training capacity.

A final project focussing on rural industries across Scotland, delivered by Scottish Enterprise, was the Redesigning Rural programme. This was a short-term pilot scheme for rural leaders who had completed the Scottish Enterprise Rural Leadership Programme. This project implemented a total of 14 work placements supporting individuals who had been negatively impacted by the pandemic, helping 13 rural SMEs progress new business and employment opportunities. In addition, 9 participants have been kept on in their placement for further employment. In terms of diversity, 42% of participants were female and one participant employed was deaf. These placements were an opportunity for individuals to retrain into a new industry, gaining experience and skills for their future careers.

Springboard for Rural Skills

Case Study: Don and Cara Cameron

For Don and Cara Cameron, crofters from Lairg in Sutherland, help from the Springboard project came at just the right time. Cara had been working as a youth development officer while Don was running his own agricultural contracting business. The couple also look after nearly 200 hectares, covering three crofts and two shares in a common grazing area.

Don had already been approached by Lantra to become a certified ATV/tractor instructor, but taking time away from work and pay for the instructor training was a risk. The Springboard project provided much needed funding to cover the costs, as well as professional development support. Both were keen to launch the area's first agricultural skills centre, so the additional mentorship and training provided came in handy. Don said: "I lost my arm a little over eight years ago in a farming accident, and although I can still work pretty much as I did before, it made me think a lot more about the future.

"The Springboard project was a lifeline, as I got professional development skills and funding for Lantra certified ATV and tractor instructor technical verifications." Don is also relishing being able to pass on his skills and knowledge to the younger generation. He said: "The great thing about being an instructor is that you're sharing your learning with someone else, so it isn't wasted."

Cara said: "The Springboard project has given us the push we needed to get the skills centre up and running to provide accredited rural skills qualifications. There's a real issue locally in keeping young people here, as limited employment opportunities mean many of them end up leaving the area to go to college or university and don't return. We hope the skills centre will give them a reason to stay."

The Springboard project enabled the upskilling and reskilling of new entrants and career changers, including those impacted by redundancy, which has become an increasingly common result of Covid-19. It also aimed to increase rural business resilience, adaptation and diversification through a more skilled workforce and help support Scotland's 'green recovery' and climate emergency response objectives.

Stove Network Creative Place Employability & Start-Up Programme

Case Study: Hagen Paterson

Hagen Paterson is part of the Dumfries Music Conference Team (DMC) and also runs his own D.I.Y. music management company, Big Red Management. Amidst the uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic, Hagen decided to engage with the Stove Network's Soap Box project. Hagen said the good-hype surrounding this programme led him to find out more: "As far as I'm concerned, it came at the right time as I personally felt a little vulnerable and wanted to see if I could work on developing some skills (amid pandemic) and potentially find new ones. Also due to the fact that it was run by The Stove, so I knew it was going to be executed well."

The Stove Network's project proved to be incredibly useful for Hagen, providing a valuable opportunity to increase his skillset: "I have learned so many new skills and it has brought to light new knowledge that will help develop my own progression in both a working life and general living."

Hagen noted a significant change in his approach to work following completion of the course. Hagen said: "I am much more aware on issues such as accessibility and inclusivity, something that I believe everyone should be working towards. It also gave me great confidence living in a freelance world and encouragement having survived a global pandemic. It has taught me that I am never alone and that our community is very much grass root, no matter what level they are within their career."

Aerospace Diversification: Business Feedback

"At Belcan, we faced the catastrophic impact to the aerospace sector and welcomed the lifeline enabled by the Aerospace Training Aid support from the NTTF initiative. This enabled the re-skilling of our engineers to allow re-deployment to sectors such as Marine, Cyber Security and Automotive, which retained and enhanced our capabilities, secured the future of our graduate engineers and ensured stability for Belcan as we enter the post-covid world as a leading provider of engineering services in Scotland, enhancing the overall reputation of the Scottish Engineering sector at home and abroad."

Tourism & Hospitality Talent Development Programme: Project Profile

This project was a 10-week online training programme funded by the Scottish Government. Three courses were offered on the programme, namely supervisor, management & leadership. Overall, twenty-four tutors provided over 3,000 hours of training. Applications were received from over 700 tourism and hospitality businesses across Scotland and 2,000 people were offered a place on the programme. Before taking part in the course 65% felt positive about their career in hospitality. This rose to 92% at the end of the programme.

In years to come people will talk about the effect of this course and the impact it had on our industry.

HIT Scotland has made a difference to so many of us in the hospitality sector and we all feel so fortunate to have been given a place.

Redesigning Rural: Participant & Business Feedback

Participant: "The last 8 weeks have been an absolute game changer for me, I was really not feeling great during my period of unemployment, and I was really trying to stay motivated, getting involved with as many volunteer projects as I could, but I was finding it very disheartening. This has been such an injection of hope for me, and it’s been really powerful."

Business: "In a small community, you’re very aware of people who have lost jobs or businesses that have folded during this time, and therefore you know of a friend or someone’s uncle who has lost their job. This was an opportunity to firstly help our business within a busy period, but also help somebody else get back on their feet and into work."