About Skills Development Scotland
Skills Development Scotland provides careers staff offering free, impartial career information, advice and guidance in schools. The SDS Careers Advisers support pupils to develop their Career Management Skills (CMS), empowering them to make informed decisions and realise their potential at any stage in their career. Professionally qualified SDS Careers Advisers have a wealth of knowledge linked to national, regional and local skills priorities.
Every state secondary school in Scotland has a dedicated Careers Adviser working from the school. They work closely with teachers and school staff on the SDS School Partnership Agreement, which shapes how SDS resources can be best deployed to match a school’s strengths, needs and local circumstances.
Their work includes:
- A mixture of one-to-one coaching, group sessions and drop-in clinics
- Creating a Career Development Plan with pupils to help with next steps and to record progress
- Offering support for parents/carers
- A focus on key transition points for young people such as leaving school
- Working closely with SDS Centre Careers Advisers and key partners to ensure successful transitions from school and continued success in sustaining positive destinations.
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