Transferable skills in land-based and aquaculture sectors: review

Appendix 5: Interview questions guide

a) Introductions and discussion about participant’s role and experience in the sector

b) Go through what the project is about and what we have done

c) Show participant PowerPoint of main findings

1. What was your initial reaction to the findings? Do they align with your experience and perception of the sector?

2. (If they represent a specific industry) What did you think of the findings about your particular industry? Did any findings stand out as particularly accurate or surprising?

3. The data highlights skills like verbal communication, teamwork, and IT proficiency as being particularly transferable. Do you think workers in the sector generally possess these skills?

4. Do you feel there are any other important transferable skills that were not included in the data but are essential for workers in the sector? Probe on technical skills

5. The sector is undergoing significant changes, such as adapting to the Scottish Government’s just transition policies and increasing mechanisation. How do you think these changes will impact the transferable skills that workers need in the future?

6. What do you think are the potential benefits to the sector and to workers of improving transferable skills?

7. What do you think are the main barriers to improving workers’ transferable skills in the sector?

8. Looking at the sector more broadly, what do you think are the biggest skills challenges right now?

9. Is there anything else you’d like to add about transferable skills, the changing nature of the sector, or anything else we haven’t touched on yet that you think is important?