Commenting on the Young people and work: interim report by Alan Milburn published today (Thursday 28 May 2026), Gavin Donoghue, CEO of Colleges Scotland said:

“Colleges are Scotland’s skills engines and act as strong community anchors, lifting people out of poverty and providing opportunities for hundreds of thousands of learners each year.

“With sustainable investment, colleges could build on the already high levels of success that learners achieve in technical and vocational education, and work even closer with employers so young people have the skills and training they need to get good jobs and have rewarding careers.

“The opportunity for young people to attend college is an opportunity that works. Colleges should be at the centre of our collective ambitions to drive up economic growth and productivity, and to drive down worklessness and poverty.”