My Highland Future’s ambitious plans to boost employment, apprenticeships and skills development across The Highland Council are being highlighted throughout Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2026 (2–6 March) with a commitment to expand the Council’s in-house apprenticeship and career development pathways, while encouraging and supporting Highland businesses to get involved.
Cllr Ken Gowans, Chair of Economy & Infrastructure, said: “My Highland Future workstream represents a major step forward in bringing education, employers, and strategic partners together to prepare Highland’s workforce for the future. By working collaboratively, we can create meaningful opportunities that strengthen our communities and economy.
“Our Future Highland delivery plan 2024-2027 sets out clear strategic pathways to support young people, unemployed adults and those looking to upskill, creating opportunities, while demonstrating the confidence in the Highlands’ potential to grow with the right targeted investment.
“What we do know is that we must do everything we can to stimulate employment, harness the growth in the energy sector and open opportunities for people living across the Highlands.”
To ensure that apprenticeship and employability support services reach a diverse range of residents and those who will benefit most, a series of initiatives under the My Highland Future workstream are being rolled out:
- My Highland Future – part of a targeted action plan to strengthen apprenticeship pathways for young school leavers and adults. The aim is to empower people supported by Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) and public services to access and succeed by training via various apprenticeship routes and skills development qualifications, helping to improve prosperity and develop our workforce of the future, both internally and externally.
- Work. Life. Highland – A partnership of public, private and third‑sector organisations supporting people into sustainable, fair employment. This service helps lift Highland residents out of poverty while enabling employers to access local talent. It delivers targeted employment, training and mentoring support to strengthen economic and community wealth. Work Life Highland values the contributions of young people, staff, newly unemployed adults and those aged 50+, whose insight helps shape new opportunities.
- Summer Paid Placements – The Council is offering 34 work placements for 16-18yr olds across a diverse range of public services, during the summer break. In addition, private and third sector opportunities will also be available. An online information session is being held on Tuesday 10 March at 6:00pm and is open to pupils and supporting adults, to find out about Summer Paid Placements. Register for the session here - https://buff.ly/acWio8y (external link).
- Workforce North - My Highland Future workstream has joined forces with Workforce North. This collaborative effort brings together Skills Development Scotland (SDS), The Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), and the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport. By working closely with local businesses and inward investors, Workforce North will promote and support co-investment in talent development and retention, creating long-term opportunities for communities across the Highlands and Islands.
- Invest Highland - Support for businesses relocating to the region, ensuring access to the right learning and skills. This enables targeted responses to sector‑specific challenges. Working with national and regional agencies, Invest Highland focuses on attracting investment, and fostering inclusive growth, aligned with national ambitions to strengthen long‑term economic resilience across the Highlands.
- Highland Employment Charter – A free employers initiative that champions good practice and highlights the commitment and investment to support communities and its people by Highland employers. Comprised of four key pillars; Fair Pay, Employ Highland, Procure Highland and Employers of Choice. Employers who gain chartership demonstrate their commitment to being an ‘employer of choice’, while having their commitment to exceptional standards recognised across the region. The new Highland Employment Charter website will go live towards the end of this month.
My Highland Future represents a long-term approach to ensuring residents of all ages can access work, skills and training to strengthen communities. This will enable people to benefit from meaningful work and support a sustainable, inclusive Highland economy and help tackle de-population.