Colleges Scotland helps to deliver positive changes for colleges. Through evidence led advocacy we represent the collective voice of Scotland’s colleges.

Colleges are Scotland’s Skills Engines

Colleges drive regional economic growth by equipping people with the skills employers need. Through education, apprenticeships, upskilling, and retraining, colleges boost productivity, support good jobs and help build a flexible, future ready workforce. We advocate for colleges to be at the heart of skills led growth, inward investment, and regional economic development.

Key areas of work include:

• Contributing evidence and using our convening power to support the development and delivery of national strategies on skills, child poverty alleviation, and other issues including sustainable investment for colleges investment, parity of esteem for college education.  View our Briefings and Publications.
• Supporting the successful and sustainable delivery of apprenticeships in the college sector so that employers benefit from responsive, locally focused solutions to labour market demand.
• Delivering key programmes and initiatives for colleges to support the pipeline of skilled workers needed by key sectors such as offshore wind, and health and social care. 

Colleges are Community Anchors

Colleges are trusted community anchors that widen access to education, tackle inequality and support learner success. With deep local roots, colleges strengthen communities, support people to leave poverty and gain new opportunities, and play a vital role in Scotland’s anti poverty and public service infrastructure. We advocate on colleges behalf so that they can support learners to access, remain in, and succeed in education.

Key areas of work include:

• Ensuring that colleges can support families at greatest risk of poverty to access the skills and education they need to enter, sustain and progress in work. In 2026/27 £9million will be invested through RISE (Raising Income through Skills and Education)  
• Advocating for fair and equitable Student Support Funding so that individuals can come to college to learn new skills and achieve qualifications that lead to rewarding careers. 
• Supporting policy development on issues including gender based violence, anti-poverty measures, sport at college, mental health and wellbeing, and international connections. 
• Making visible the need for investment in the college estates across Scotland. 

Sustainable Investment

Sustainable and fair funding is essential for colleges to deliver high quality learning and respond to national and regional skills needs. Colleges Scotland advocates for multi-year investment that supports learners, values the college workforce, and enables colleges to remain innovative, resilient institutions at the heart of Scotland’s economy and communities.

Key areas of work include:

• Advocating for sustainable funding for the college sector
• Securing additional investment for colleges in key priority areas.
• Advocating for sustained and significant funding in college infrastructure so that students and staff can work and learn in fit for purpose campuses.