The Alliance of Sector Skills Councils in Scotland, the body responsible for representing employers on skills issues, has today launched a campaign urging Scotland's political parties to put skills and the delivery of a skilled workforce at the heart of their policy commitments for the Scottish elections in May.

And Independent MSP Margo MacDonald has given her backing to the campaign lodging a parliamentary motion on the matter.

The Alliance Scotland, through its 23 constituent Sector Skills Councils (SSCs), represents employers in areas ranging from construction to financial services and hospitality to energy.

The campaign, entitled 'Count Me In', calls on Scottish Parliament candidates to work with SSCs to deliver the five pledges outlined in the Alliance Scotland's 2011 Manifesto in order to achieve the step change that is needed to make the skills system in Scotland truly demand-led.

By being able to understand the skills requirements of the workforce, both today and in the future, the Alliance Scotland is able to work with schools, universities, colleges and training providers to ensure there is the right supply of skills to meet the demand required in these sectors and plug the skills gaps.

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This ensures that skills funding is properly targeted at meeting employer needs, as well as ensuring those that are unemployed have the right skills to get them back into employment, especially important in the current economic environment.

The Alliance Scotland's five pledges calls on parliamentary candidates to:

-Put employers at the heart of the skills landscape and maintain a skilled workforce

-Ensure skills policy is based on robust labour market intelligence

-Ensure high quality information, advice and guidance is easily available and accessible

to deliver skills requirements

-Deliver qualification strategies that meet the needs of employers

-Increase participation in and widen access to apprenticeships, vocational training

and work-based learning opportunities

Lothians’ MSP, Margo MacDonald, said: "I welcome this campaign as a skilled workforce is absolutely vital if Scotland is able to compete in a highly competitive world. No one owes us a living and I would urge all the parties and individuals involved in the forthcoming election to sign up to these pledges."

Jacqui Hepburn, Director of the Alliance Scotland, added: "We are delighted to be launching this campaign and urging Scotland's policy makers to put skills at the heart of their policy commitments. By having candidates from across the parties sign up to these five pledges we can ensure Scotland moves towards a demand-led system whereby the right skills are available to employers in the right place and at the right time."

(GK)