Business leaders and HR managers are being urged to attend a unique business ‘Talent Summit’ on Thursday 2 April 2009 in Edinburgh, to develop a plan of action to tackle the skills and training gap facing Scotland.

This high profile summit urges businesses to come together and understand that even in the current climate there are ways to help fill the gap by using current resources.  Demonstrating how businesses can prosper by implementing innovative and cost-effective ways to develop their staff, this summit is ultimately focused on nurturing Scotland’s potential talent and building a future.  

Keynote speaker Lord Robert Smith, Chairman of Weir Group and Scottish & Southern Energy and a member of Alex Salmond’s Council of Economic Advisors will address the audience, giving an insight into the economic imperative of up skilling Scotland’s workforce and how businesses can, and should contribute.

Lord Smith will be joined by a host of other high profile business leaders from across Scotland who understand the importance of this issue including: Iain McMillan(CBI) , David Watt (IoD), Chris Van Der Kuyl (CEO of Bright Solids), Stuart Riddle (ICAS) and Gordon Wilson (Amey).  They will drive the Summit, inviting debate and discussion, and encourage businesses to think differently about how they develop their staff.

Currently businesses in the UK spend less than any other EU country on developing staff, and a third of businesses spend nothing at all.  And there is a risk of this getting worse.  Many have a current battle to contend with, ensuring their long term survival and safe guarding a future for their business and their staff.  Subsequently developing staff and engaging in community activities are often put on the back burner.

This is against a backdrop where, one in 5 adults lack the literacy skills to look up a plumber in the yellow pages and one in 6 leave school without being able to read, write or add up. In addition the number of unemployed is rising and in Scotland there are still 33,000 young people not in employment or education throughout the country.

The Government is working hard to change these statistics and to ensure that Scotland can compete internationally in the future.  However businesses need to play an active role too, especially in this current climate. 

Maree Drury, campaign manager for Scotland’s Got Talent, knows that Scotland needs this type of forum to get businesses motivated she said: “Our Talent Summit is not a talking shop – it is about action.  Acting now will ultimately benefit Scotland in the future so no one can afford to sit around. 

“The Talent Summit is here to help.  We can devise development opportunities with businesses that fit their business needs.  We can help with partnerships.  This Summit will show businesses just how easy it is to get involved and the overwhelming benefits they will receive as a result.” 

In the current economic climate people still remain a critical asset for businesses. It is even more important than ever to find cost-effective and innovative ways to ensure that staff morale and development is maintained, and also look long term and prepare Scotland for economic growth by ensuring we up skill all those who can make a positive economic contribution.

The Summit organised by Scottish Business in the Community and the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives and is being supported by the Scottish Government. 

It is free to attend and runs from 8.30am to 1.30pm at The Hub, Castlehill Edinburgh.  To reserve a place please e-mail events@sbcscot.com

For more information on the campaign and for case study examples go to www.scotlandsgottalent.org.uk