WEBINAR: Skills At Work 2026: Insights from Employers, Employees and Industry.

Hosted by Suzanne McQuade, Senior CPD Manager at University of the West of Scotland, this webinar explored the key trends, emerging challenges, and evolving priorities shaping skills development, training, and workforce growth across Scotland. Suzanne opened the session by outlining Scotland’s current skills and workforce landscape, setting the scene for the survey findings and emphasising the importance of capturing clearer workforce perspectives to better understand how skills development can be supported. Co-host Paul Rafferty, CPD Operations Manager, then presented the findings from the 2026 Skills Surveys, highlighting critical insights including shifting employer needs, skills gaps, and future workforce demands, and offering practical perspectives to help organisations and professionals stay ahead in a rapidly changing environment. Suzanne and Paul were also joined by Nicola McCormack, Employer Engagement Executive at Skills Development Scotland, who brought expert insight into national priorities and workforce development. Facilitated by Suzanne, Paul and Nicola explored emerging themes from the survey, discussing what these insights meant in practice for organisations across sectors. This webinar was designed for policymakers, employers, and workforce planners looking to drive stronger alignment between workforce development and real-world demand, ensuring Scotland’s workforce remained skilled, adaptable, and future-ready. Attendees gained practical advice on how employers could build capability, address skills gaps, and better align training with the demands of a rapidly changing economy. From adopting new technologies to strengthening workforce resilience, the session offered actionable guidance for organisations looking to stay ahead. To find out more about the UWS Centre for Continuing Professional Development, visit: cpd.uws.ac.uk To find out more about the support available from Skills Development Scotland, visit: www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk