Chamber and committees

It is a condition of grant under the Gypsy/Traveller Accommodation Fund that projects are developed in line with the Interim Site Design Guide, published by the Scottish Government in December 2021 to assist in the development of high quality accommodation. Grant offers are being phased, based on tendered costs, to help manage the risks attached to current supply chain issues. Local authorities will report regularly to the Scottish Government on progress and draw down funding in line with evidenced spend on their projects. Plans for learning from and evaluation of the Gypsy/Traveller Accommodation Fund include a comparative cost analysis, to improve our understanding of the costs of modern Gypsy/Traveller accommodation.

Since the Gypsy/Traveller Accommodation Fund was launched in June 2021 Aberdeen City Council, Clackmannanshire Council and Fife Council have been awarded grants.

Yes, the Scottish Government is currently developing plans for an evaluation of the Gypsy/Traveller Accommodation Fund, including the impact on site residents.

For individuals who undertake the Engineering and Engineering Construction frameworks, there is the opportunity to complete a Scottish Vocational Qualification in the units set out below:

Engineering:

• Fabrication and Welding Engineering (SCQF Level 6)
• Fabrication and Welding Engineering Sheet Metalwork 3mm, less (SCQF Level 6)
• Fabrication and Welding Engineering (Manual Welding) (SCQF Level 6)

Engineering Construction:

• Diploma in Welding Engineering Construction Plate (SCQF Level 7)

There are also qualifications available for those who wish to train in welding through the Employability Fund (EF), which was developed as a response to concerns that the existing landscape of provision for pre-employment support in Scotland was too fragmented and not flexible enough to meet the needs of individuals and local labour markets.

With a strong focus on work experience, the EF responds to the different needs of individuals, while also adapting to employer demands on a local basis. Employability Fund can be used to support people to develop the employability and vocational skills they need to make the transition into a Modern Apprenticeship or job.

As part of the EF, the following qualifications are available for individuals to undertake:

• Welding - Radiographic Interpretation of Welds
• Welding Inspector
• Welding Code Core Flux 6 GR EN ISO 96061
• Flux Core Welding 6G H-LO45 135/136 incl. Exam
• CSWIP Welding Inspection with E-Learning

In 2020-21, based on recorded nationality, there were around 125 Ukrainian students at university and 45 Ukrainian students at college. However, further students will have close links of family members affected by the current crisis and we want to support them as well.

We are continuing to engage with the sector to identify the likely impact on students studying at Scottish institutions. I met with University and College principals on 2 March to learn more about how they are responding to support students who may be affected by the situation and to understand some of the wider concerns they may have.

Ukrainian and other international students are already able to access a Coronavirus Fund put in place by Scottish Government to support students financially impacted by the pandemic. Scottish Government officials are also currently considering what additional support can be offered to students impacted by the conflict who are studying in Scotland.

We are also conscious of the impact of the ongoing situation on student mental health and wellbeing and welcome Universities Scotland’s ‘Statement of Solidarity with Ukraine’.

Students experiencing mental health and wellbeing or hardship issues, should, in the first instance, contact their respective institutions. Further mental health and wellbeing and finance advice is also available on the Student Information Scotland website.

To support our approach and ensure quality for the next phase, we will shortly begin an interim and independent evaluation of the pilot phase.

Marketing for the Open Market Shared Equity scheme is carried out by the administering agent as part of their contract to administer the scheme on behalf of the Scottish Government

It is the responsibility of Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) who deliver the New Supply Shared Equity scheme to carry out marketing for each of their developments.

Working with industry, we have developed a set of installer skills requirements to help professionalise services in this sector, and provide clearer career pathways for young people. We consulted on these earlier last year and we are now integrating these requirements into the relevant industry standards.

We have partnered with Scottish Renewables and Skills Development Scotland (SDS) to undertake a 'Heat in Buildings Workforce Assessment Project' which will help us define the timing of workforce growth and how best to support people transitioning into key roles. This work will report back in Spring 2022. This will improve our understanding on how best to support workforce investment and ensure that jobs will be available for people to move into as they complete their training.

At the end of 2020 the Scottish Government and Skills Development Scotland (SDS) published the Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan (CESAP) setting out the actions we need to take to ensure our workforce is able to support the transition to net zero.

As part of the implementation of the CESAP, Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) are currently reviewing training needs and available provision required to deliver the ambitions of our Heat in Buildings Strategy. We have commissioned a workforce assessment which will serve as an evidence base for this review.

Modern Apprenticeships are the key pathway for young people into the heating and plumbing industry. The Scottish Government provides a contribution towards training of Mas through SDS. The public funded training contribution is structured by age and level, and prioritised to support outcomes within the Scottish Government's skills and economic strategies.

Three colleges are currently offering insulation apprenticeships - West College Scotland, South Lanarkshire College and Edinburgh College. A further two training facilities at West Lothian College and Dundee & Angus College are due to open August 2022 to meet the increased demand.

In addition the new Insultation Building Treatments (IBT) Level 5/6 qualification approved by Apprenticeship Approvals Group (AAG) to support external wall apprenticeships. This qualification will be supported within Scotland's colleges insultation training facilities with funding received from SP Energy Networks Green Economy Funding and Scottish Government.

This new qualification will further improve the quality and standards of installations in Scotland, in addition to creating new Apprenticeship Opportunities.

Following our consultation in 2019, a short-life working group, chaired by Jim Hayton, was established in October 2021 and has met five times to date. So far, the working group has considered:

• Amendments required to the existing advisory standards and how the new standards can be incorporated into a temporary accommodation standards framework.
• What the processes are to ensure the framework is implemented by local authorities.
• Whether legislative changes are needed to implement the framework.
• What the timescales are for the framework implementation.
• The support local authorities may require to fully implement the standards framework and to ensure compliance.
• How the standards will be assessed.
• How the standards framework can be monitored and regulated.
• Whether sanctions are necessary and, if so, how they will be enforced.

The working group aims to produce a temporary accommodation standards framework later in 2022.