Independent Commission for Land-Based Learning - review and implementation plan: SG response - progress report

Recommendation 7:

Contribute to the Skills delivery landscape independent review, ensuring that the 16+ Data Hub captures the wide range of job roles undertaken across the Sector to allow for effective monitoring and impact.

Output

The issue of capturing job titles in the sector was raised by the Land-based Learning Review’s Co-Chair as part of their evidence to the Skills Delivery Landscape Review.

We will develop an understanding of the job titles and data sets used by the 16+ Data Hub to identify practicable opportunities for improvement to better reflect the range of careers in the sector.

Implementing Actions

Work with stakeholders, including Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and Data Hub users to understand and identify opportunities for improvement.

Share the issues raised in the Land-based Learning Review regarding data sets and job titles with data collectors.

Work with users of data e.g. SDS, Lantra, careers advisors, local authorities to explore how jobs in the sector can be better captured.

Progress Update

Scottish Government are co-delivering this recommendation with Lantra. Lantra are engaging with stakeholders to learn more about the review of the 16+ Data Hub. Key skills groups have been identified relating to Horticulture, Game and Wildlife, Agriculture, Forestry and Peatland restoration. Discussions are ongoing regarding the most appropriate forum for Aquaculture as there is not currently an active skills group in that area.

For the project, it is likely that different approaches will need to be adopted to suit the needs of different stakeholders. To this end, in April 2025 contact will be made with the chairs of each of the Skills groups to establish the best meeting time/date to meet with attendees and discuss the most appropriate next steps within each sector.

Alongside these communications, reports will be sought from SDS that list the current job titles associated with each area, the definitions that the roles sit under and any pertinent data/context that might be useful to present to the group.

Plans for each sector will be generated after these meetings, and further consultation route maps developed as appropriate.

Analysis and recommendations to be made available by June 2025, depending on the availability of each Skills Group. Meeting to then be held with SDS and key 16+ Data Hub staff to discuss how best to implement the recommendations and define the timeline for the work required.

Timescales

2024 – 2025 - expected to be met.

Milestones

Scope a project working with industry skills groups to provide an understanding of which job titles are priorities for change by spring 2025 - in progress.