e-skills UK has released four reports as part of the IT and Telecoms Insights 2008 series, that presents a unique view of the key trends, opportunities and challenges facing the UK over the next ten years, and their implications for skills.

The reports provide further insight into the findings previewed in the headline report Technology Counts: IT and Telecoms Insights 200 that was launched at the end of January. The full series provides an in-depth understanding of the existing IT and Telecoms industry and forecasts the future based on the best available global intelligence, including new input from more than 4,000 UK employers. Click Here

Financial Services Skills Council has appointed Linda Houston to the role of Relationship Manager, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Linda has most recently been working as a consultant with Scottish Financial Enterprise (SFE). She has many years’ experience working in financial services in Scotland, including key roles at Scottish Widows. Linda also established and, for six years, ran Scottish Investment Operations, which represents eighteen investment companies.

Based in Edinburgh, Linda will be responsible for working with employers and their professional bodies to identify current and future skills needs for the sector in Scotland. She will collaborate with a number of key stakeholders on skills solutions, including the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland. Linda can be contacted at Linda.houston@fssc.org.uk

Learning & Teaching Scotland (LTS) plans to run four events for employers, parents and pupils during September and October to seek views on Curriculum for Excellence as follows: 15 Sept Edinburgh, Murrayfield Stadium; 22 Sept Dundee, Hilton Hotel; 6 Oct Aberdeen, AECC; 8 Oct Glasgow, Hampden Stadium.

The purpose of these events is to provide background information to these important stakeholders about changes which are currently being planned for the curriculum and the likely impact this could have on young people’s learning. There will also be a choice of workshops, from which participants may select two, on aspects such as literacy, numeracy, health & wellbeing, active learning & skills for life and work, implications for assessment and qualifications.

LTS hope to make these workshops as interactive as possible and give people a chance to ask questions and contribute to thinking about young people’s educational needs in the 21st century. For more information please contact m.gore@ltscotland.org.uk

The Alliance of Sector Skills Councils has appointed Jan Podsiadly as its UK Communications Manager. Jan will work with SSC communications leads to develop and articulate the Alliance voice to government and other partners. Jan can be contacted at jan.podsiadly@sscalliance.org.

Also, Elaine Moore has been appointed as the Alliance’s manager for Wales. Elaine can be contacted at elaine.moore@sscalliance.org