The Highlands and Islands are forecast to benefit from more than £100 billion of investment, led by renewable energy generation, transmission and distribution.

This unprecedented opportunity to reshape the Highland economy comes as the region tackles a shrinking and ageing population that poses a significant workforce challenge.

To seize the moment, a 'Call to Action' event took place on Wednesday, 26 November 2025 at the Strathpeffer Pavilion, gathering over 150 delegates, including strategic partners, employers, senior educators, and young people from schools and apprenticeship placements.

The event was designed to deepen links between industry and education, stimulate collaboration, and widen future skills and career routes across the Highlands. Workforce North was also launched as a broader regional initiative aligned with the My Highland Future workstream of the Council's Highland Investment Plan.

Skills Development Scotland (SDS), together with The Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) and the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport, is working with local firms and inward investors to promote and support co-investment in attracting, developing and retaining talent, creating long-term opportunities for communities throughout the Highlands and Islands.

Education Committee Chair, Cllr John Finlayson said: "This event represents a major step forward in bringing education, employers, and strategic partners together to prepare Highland's workforce for the future. By working collaboratively, we can create meaningful opportunities that strengthen our communities and economy.

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"The event united around 80 local employers, school leaders, young people and key partners to address workforce challenges and explore solutions. Our goal is to foster collaboration, raise awareness of career pathways, and ensure school leavers understand the wide range of progressive and rewarding career opportunities available across Highland."

A standout session featured a panel of young people who spoke clearly and confidently about what they need from education and employers to acquire the skills to build careers in Highland, underscoring the value of education–industry collaboration.

There was a collective message, delivered by Connie MacLennan (a senior school pupil who recently completed a summer paid placement with The Highland Council) that captured attendees' attention:

Connie, said: "We need to engage young people in ways that spark interest—don't be boring."

Event objectives included:

- Raising awareness of Workforce North's ambitions and plans

- Securing commitment to collaborative working on shared goals

- Gathering feedback to shape future delivery

- Promoting The Highland Council's support platforms for sign-up and engagement

To support this work, the Council has begun gathering data on curriculum inputs to strengthen direct career learning. A curriculum map aligned with My Highland Future outcomes and the Career Education Standard has been issued to schools for self-evaluation. Surveys to school leaders, teaching staff and young people will capture baseline data, highlight good practice and inform priority actions, with findings to be analysed and reported to the Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) lead network meeting.

The My Highland Future workstream is also collaborating with the Education Service and the Council's Community Benefits Team to align with My Highland Future objectives and social value commitments. This ensures funding received from industry through contractual social value obligations is strategically channelled to education priorities across the region, supported by a centrally coordinated approach to managing events and distributing resources to schools.

This coordinated model strengthens industry–education connections, maximises the impact of community benefit commitments and ensures learners at all stages gain from richer experiences and resources.

The approach is reinforced by the Highland Employer Charter's 'Employ Highland' pillar, which encourages employers to create opportunities for Highland residents and provide local career pathways and work experience.

The Highland Employer Charter sponsored the event in partnership with SDS. The Highland Employer Charter project has been part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.