Developing your workforce

Growing your workforce and building new skills can help your business stay competitive and ready for new opportunities. Below are free services and support you can use to develop staff, plan for the future and connect with young talent.

Business mentoring

Business Mentoring Scotland is a free service for business owners. You’ll be matched with an experienced mentor who can share practical advice, industry knowledge and useful contacts. Mentoring can help you build confidence, explore new ideas and support your business to grow.

This service is ideal for ambitious businesses and social enterprises looking to develop their leadership skills and long‑term plans.

Supporting young talent

Developing Young Workforce helps you connect with schools and young people, giving you a way to build your future workforce. It can help you offer work experience, understand young people’s skills and create opportunities that support both your business and local learners.

Skills support and apprenticeships

Skills Development Scotland offers free advice to employers of all sizes. Through their employer support team you can:

• get tailored guidance through the Skills for Growth service
• learn about work‑based learning and apprenticeships
• connect with local schools and training opportunities

University and college expertise

Interface can link your business with experts in Scotland’s universities. They can help you develop new products, services or processes, and a £5,000 voucher is available to support academic time and project costs.

Local universities and colleges can also help you access student placements or recruit new talent:

• University of the West of Scotland
• South Lanarkshire College

Healthy Working Lives

Healthy Working Lives is a free NHS service that helps businesses improve workplace health, safety and wellbeing. Support includes:

• advice on legal requirements and good practice
• online, face‑to‑face and accredited training
• staff wellbeing tools and surveys
• workplace visits
• award programmes
• an advice line and webchat

They can also support employees with health issues to remain in work or return safely.