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Foreword
The Scottish Government recognises that a skilled workforce is crucial to achieving our key purpose of sustainable economic growth and to creating a smarter, fairer country in which we all have an opportunity to develop to our full potential. A better skilled workforce is a more productive and innovative workforce, which is better able to adapt to changes in the economy, in technology and in the international arena.
Skills for Scotland, our lifelong skills strategy, recognises that enhancing and properly using our skills plays a vital role in driving and supporting economic growth. Employers and employees have much to gain from encouraging and participating in skills development opportunities and I believe that a right for employees to request time off to train offers a useful vehicle for supporting this.
I believe this is a step in the right direction for lifelong learning in the workplace, giving employees an opportunity to have a meaningful conversation with employers about training which would benefit them both. It will also help ensure that our workforce not only becomes more skilled, but also that these skills are fully utilised in the workplace. That is the right combination for Scotland and will allow us to deliver higher levels of sustainable economic growth. It will add to our resilience in challenging economic times and better prepare us to prosper when global economic conditions improve.
The Scottish Government has taken the lead in proposing the extension of the territorial scope of the Westminster Government's proposal so Scottish employees can now enjoy the same right to request time off to train. I encourage employers, trade unions, trainers in education and individuals in Scotland to ensure your views are heard on this important issue.
FIONA HYSLOP MSP
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning
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