Employers and educators from across the Highlands have gathered to hear how a new initiative is aiming to transform the region’s economy.
Workforce North – A Call to Action brought together business leaders and teachers from primary and secondary schools from across the Highland Council area with a wide range of partners geared towards education, learning and skills development at Strathpeffer Pavillion.
With the Highlands and Islands expected to see investment of up to £100billion over the next 15 years driven by the generation and transmission of renewable energy, the region needs to attract and retain new skills and grow the working age population so communities and businesses can benefit.
Workforce North proposes a new way of working to meet this challenge, with industry and public partners collaborating to expand the regional workforce through a system-wide place-based approach.
Hosted by Jaci Douglas, Chief Executive of the Care and Learning Alliance, more than 150 attendees at Wednesday’s event heard a video message from Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes who launched the Workforce North initiative last month in Inverness.
The Deputy First Minister said, “Workforce North is more than a programme – it’s a mission to unlock the full potential of the Highlands and Islands, turning ambition into tangible action. It reinforces collaborative investment, bringing public and private partners together, to ensure we have the right people, with the right skills, in the right place, at the right time.
“It’s about maximising the return on every pound spent, enabling our workforce to seize economic opportunities. Above all, it’s about regional empowerment, enabling communities to shape their future, with local ambition backed by national support. It is a call to action to unlock the region’s full potential, invest in people as well as infrastructure, and ensure every community, from the mainland to the islands, has the opportunity to thrive.”
Speakers at the event included Derek Brown, Chief Executive of The Highland Council, and Calum MacPherson, CEO of Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport.
Leader of The Highland Council, Cllr Raymond Bremner said, “The Highland Council is committed to positioning our region as a leader in the transition to a sustainable energy future. We are driving economic growth and building a skilled workforce ready to deliver transformative projects, including the Green Freeport.
“The launch of the Workforce North marks a pivotal moment. It brings together government, partners, and industry to create exceptional opportunities for our young people, establishing forward-thinking career pathways, and empowering talent to thrive right here in the Highlands. Together, we will ensure Highland communities are not only part of this £100billion investment over the next 15 years, but are at the forefront of innovation, prosperity, and progress.”
Attendees also heard panel discussions from apprentices and learners in the early stages of their careers, and from employers in some of the key industries where skills are most in demand.
The initiative is being supported by a new co-investment fund backed by up to £2 million from Skills Development Scotland (SDS), which aims to provide a powerful platform to leverage further investment from the private sector to rapidly grow and expand the regional workforce.
Neville Prentice, Senior Director of Delivery at SDS, was also among the speakers at the event.
He said, “Today’s event demonstrates there is already a great deal of positive work being done to develop the workforce the Highlands and Islands’ needs, but the scale of the challenge is such that no one part of our economy can deliver that change alone.
“That’s why Workforce North envisions a new model of partnership working that helps people understand the opportunities and offers new ways to grasp them. The energy that was in evidence throughout the day in Strathpeffer gives me confidence that Workforce North can have the transformational effect we believe it is capable of.”
Colin Marr, Chief Executive of Inverness Chamber of Commerce, reflected, “It was a genuinely inspiring day, with strong representation from across business, the public and third sectors, education and skills. We were honest about the challenges, and we made real progress together. Is everything in place yet? Of course not – but the willingness to collaborate and the shared grasp of the issues came through loud and clear. There’s a huge amount still to do, and we can’t afford to lose focus, but this event gave us a sharper understanding of our individual roles and our collective impact. It was a really positive step on the journey ahead.”
The event was co-hosted by Highland Council and Skills Development Scotland.
Partners involved in Workforce North include SDS, Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, University of Highlands and Islands, Scottish Funding Council, Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport, Developing the Young Workforce and the Department for Work and Pensions.