For people who have faced setbacks such as sudden redundancy or long-term unemployment, feel excluded for a variety of reasons or simply want to improve their skills, we can offer assistance through a variety of methods.

Training for Work
If you are over 18 and have been unemployed for at least six months in the last 52 weeks, Training for Work could help you to gain new skills and find a job.

Modern Apprenticeships
Trainees over the age of 20 in the engineering and construction related sectors may be eligible for funding to undertake Modern Apprenticeship qualifications. This can help you to train and improve your current skills while remaining in your job and earning a wage.

Careers Scotland
Careers Scotland advisers can give you advice and information about work and learning, whenever you need it, how often you need it and at whatever stage of life you are.

New Deal
New Deal was created to help unemployed people get into work by closing the gap between the skills employers want and the skills people can offer. It's a real opportunity for you to get off benefits and into work.
For more information visit the New Deal website.

Learning Centres
The geography of the Highlands and Islands creates numerous barriers for learning. People living and working in more remote areas face added difficulties in accessing the opportunities and benefits which can be derived from embracing lifelong learning and skills development.

To help you access training and learning, a network of Learning Centres has been established across the Highlands and Islands which will help to reduce some of these barriers, in particular:

• travel distance to the place of learning may be significantly shortened;
• you may feel less intimidated by the prospect of going into a local centre rather than a more formal educational establishment;
• the opening times will cater for the circumstances of local people;
• on-line learning can offer the opportunity to access learning without the need to move away from home, family or community to study.

For more information about the skills opportunities available to you contact your Careers Scotland centre.

Note: The responsibility for national training programmes transferred from Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to Skills Development Scotland on 1 April 2008.