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Upskilling news

Explore our skills at work articles for latest ideas, views and research.
 

  Dr Judith Turbyne and Simon Massey from Children in Scotland, Susan Stewart and Jane Grant from the OU in Scotland

Partnership to improve children's lives

Children in Scotland has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the OU in Scotland which will form the foundation of an exciting partnership between the two organisations.

22 November 2023

Photo of an NHS Scotland ambulance

Health education and training to improve outcomes

NHS Education for Scotland has signed a new strategic collaboration agreement with the OU.

20 November 2023

Front cover of the OU's Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) report

Lack of skills holding back environmental, social and governance action

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy is discussed in board rooms but lack of skills is holding back action, according to new report by The Open University.

6 November 2023

Steven McGeever, Senior Partnerships Manager at the Open University in Scotland, and Dr Gill Stewart, SQA Director of Qualifications Development

Articulation agreement between SQA and OU confirmed

The OU in Scotland has signed an agreement with the SQA which will allow learners from across the country who have completed HNC and diplomas to progress onto OU degrees.

10 October 2023

Jane Grant, OU in Scotland Depute Director for External Engagement & Partnerships and Philip Long, Chief Executive for the National Trust for Scotland signing the Memorandum of Understanding

Partnership opens up new opportunities for Trust

The OU and the National Trust for Scotland have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which will form the foundation of an exciting partnership between the two organisations.

20 September 2023

Two people seated and looking at a laptop screen, with three other people nearby who are in discussion.

Scottish employers missing out on hidden talent pool

The latest Business Barometer report shows skills shortages for most Scottish organisations.

29 June 2023

Survival Systems employee

Help for Scottish SMEs aiming to modernise

New research recognises the positive impact of staff upskilling on business success. Tim Lewis shares how the OU in Scotland can help businesses through the Flexible Workforce Development Fund.

20 June 2023

People chatting in a workshop

Two-thirds of Scotland's SMEs report skills shortages

Two-thirds of Scotland's SMEs owners and managers have reported that skills shortages are impacting their profitability, according to new research conducted for the OU in Scotland.

30 May 2023

Winning Scotland staff in meeting - Image by Neil Hanna

Business roadshow unlocks fully-funded training

The OU in Scotland has launched its inaugural Skills for Business Roadshow which will be touring Scotland in April and May.

12 April 2023

A smiling chef standing in a kitchen

Supporting the tourism and hospitality workforce

This Scottish Tourism Month, the OU’s David Allen highlights our support for the tourism and hospitality sector to recruit and retain staff, following Brexit and COVID-19 challenges.

24 March 2023

Tourism and hospitality talent nurtured

OU in Scotland and Hospitality Industry Trust (HIT) Scotland Scholars will gain knowledge and skills on a funded Microcredential course.

21 March 2023

Business Barometer roundtable meeting in Dundee, 2023.

Scottish employers share skills challenges

A range of employers, representatives from local educational institutions, and business leaders, came together to share their experiences of the local skills landscape, and challenges they're facing, reveals Tim Lewis, Business Relationships Manager at the OU in Scotland.

20 March 2023

Business people chatting next to a whiteboard.

Helping businesses to bridge skills gaps

Employers across Scotland say that their organisations are facing acute skills shortages, with the impact leading to reduced output, profitability and growth. The OU's David Allen shares how Scotland's businesses of all sizes can access training to bridge vital skills gaps. 

30 January 2023

Leeanne MacPherson, OU Nursing Graduate.

Defusing nursing’s ticking timebomb

The current shortfall in nursing staff has been described as a ‘ticking timebomb’. The OU provides accessible routes that open up nursing careers to more people, says the Liz Sturley from the OU's School of Health, Wellbeing and Social Care.

12 December 2022

Champions at Open Learning Champions networking event in Glasgow, April 2019

Vital opportunities delivered to Scotland's businesses

Small businesses in Scotland can now access free training from the UK's largest university to help upskill their workforce. Tim Lewis, Business Relationships Manager at the OU in Scotland, explains how employers and employees can benefit from the fund.

3 October 2022