Employers celebrate upskilling Scottish workforce

Fourteen employers from across the Borders have been recognised for their positive contribution to the upskilling and education of the Scottish workforce at an awards dinner held at Borders College.

Honouring the organisations’ association and partnership with the College, where a significant number of their employees carried out professional training and development, representatives from each organisation were invited to attend the inaugural Employer Recognition Awards.

Borders College strives to provide individuals and businesses with access to learning and development that will support their individual progress and improve their economic prosperity, working with over 500 employers in 2017 and almost 1,200 businesses across the past 3 years.

Angela Cox, College Principal, welcomed guests to the awards, reinforcing how the support and involvement of employers and key stakeholders is integral to Borders College’s success in helping individuals to maximise their potential:

“We would not be able to achieve any of this if it was not for your support, collaboration and partnership ethos.

“The recently published Enterprise & Skills Strategic Board Strategic Plan puts skills at the heart of driving an inclusive and sustainable economic growth in Scotland.

“I am delighted to see that work-based learning and lifelong learning are being prioritised. This means that in the future, I hope, we will be able to support our employers more and in a more flexible way to help you achieve your ambitions.”

At the awards dinner held in the College Restaurant, attendees were presented with a silver plaque which they can proudly display within their workplaces.

The fourteen organisations awarded were:

• Marlin Industries,
• Berwickshire Housing,
• Brothers of Charity,
• Cherrytrees Nurseries,
• Eildon Housing,
• Garvald,
• Scottish Borders Housing Association,
• Farne Salmon,
• JobcentrePlus,
• Scottish Public Pensions Agency,
• NHS Borders,
• SB Cares,
• Scottish Borders Council and
• Waverley Housing.

Each of the employers recognised at the awards had their own story to tell on the benefits of working in partnership with Borders College, but their high regard for their respective workforces and their ongoing development was consistent across the board, demonstrating why they are all so deserving of their accolades.

It is hoped that the Employer Recognition Awards will become a more regular fixture in the College calendar, maintaining these important established connections with industry.