Highlands and Islands counting on skilled workforce for new investments

5th April 2012

A new register to demonstrate the skills and experience of workers interested in the financial and business services industry across the Highlands and Islands has been launched by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).

Due to a number of ongoing discussions with companies interested in investing and creating jobs in the area, the agency is now looking to demonstrate the range and diversity of skills and experience which are available across the Highlands and Islands.

HIE works with businesses and partners such as Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and Job Centre Plus to provide information on the available workforce to potential inward investors to the region from across the world.

These potential investors are looking for people who have skills across a range of subjects and disciplines, including contact centre, IT, finance, customer care, legal and healthcare. The opportunities may include both desk based and home working roles.

Joyce Maclennan, Head of Financial and Business Services at HIE, said: "HIE has a long history of attracting inward investment to the area and the Highlands and Islands is recognised by employers as being rich in skills suitable for the financial and business services sector.

"Companies new to the Highlands and Islands need reassurance there is an available workforce with skills and experience or people willing to train and progress in the company.

"Multinational companies who are already here, such as Atos, Arise UK, Cap Gemini and Vertex, already recognise that the Highlands and Islands workforce is highly skilled and reliable, making it a perfect choice when they are looking for locations to invest and recruit.

"The new Skills Register aims to provide HIE with data which will demonstrate the skills and expertise available to respond to inward investment enquiries and assist companies in making an informed choice about where to base their services."

The Skills Register will take no more than five minutes to complete and people who register will be kept up to date with the latest news and events, as well as any potential opportunities from new and growing businesses looking to develop their workforce either on site or via homeworking.

Filling in the form will not guarantee a job, but HIE will use the information provided as evidence to support inward investment enquiries, and will never share personal information with third parties.

The register is available at www.hie.co.uk/business-services/skills-register.html

For further information on the project, please email skills[AT]hient.co.uk