Provision of Associate Trainers

Digital skills, Artificial intelligence (AI) and automation skills, data literacy and data management, digital transformation and innovation capability, cybersecurity skills, digital marketing and e-commerce. With the acceleration of digital, the following are also subject areas that are in high demand: Digital skills focus on strong digital communication and collaboration abilities alongside cloud and productivity fundamentals. Artificial intelligence (AI) and automation skills centre on understanding foundational and responsible AI principles as well as applying process automation tools. Data literacy and data management priorities include the ability to interpret and visualise data effectively and uphold good data governance and ethics. Digital transformation and innovation capability requires skills in digital strategy and change leadership, paired with service design and user centred design approaches. Cybersecurity skills focus on building strong cyber hygiene and user awareness, supported by basic risk management and incident response knowledge. Digital marketing and e commerce emphasise SEO and analytics, combined with content creation and digital advertising to drive engagement and growth. Accredited and non-accredited opportunities ranging from SCQF5 and above requested. Training in widely used, industry standard digital tools- such as Microsoft Teams, OneNote for collaborative working, and digital bookkeeping platforms - is also in high demand.

Cloud accounting training, including tools to report major internal and external cost savings while simplifying invoicing, reconciliation and reporting. Software including but not limited to: Xero, QuickBooks Online, Sage Business Cloud. Training for real time reporting & dashboard use, automated reconciliation & digital invoicing, integration of cloud accounting with payroll, inventory & CRM. Automation & Digital Bookkeeping Skills, including AI assisted bookkeeping & categorisation, Automated VAT and payroll workflows Cybersecurity in Financial Systems, including secure logins & multi factor authentication, data backup & GDPR compliant data handling, fraud prevention & financial system risk awareness Digital Taxation & Compliance, including making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT & self assessment, digital record keeping, submission of returns via cloud platforms. Data Driven Finance & Business Partnering Skills, including training for financial dashboards & data visualisation, forecasting & scenario modelling, KPI development & management reporting, business partnering & commercial analysis.

Creative and strategic visual merchandising, high quality customer service and communication and operational retail skills for efficient and profitable store management Visual Merchandising Skills including window display design & in store presentation - creating eye catching, brand aligned displays, store layout planning & product placement - designing customer flow, optimising lighting, and using fixtures effectively to guide purchasing decisions. Understanding customer behaviour & retail psychology. Customer Service Skills for retail, including high quality customer interaction skills- effective communication, problem solving, and managing queries or complaints. Service excellence & personalisation- delivering tailored shopping experiences, a key differentiator in modern retail. Retail Optimisation Skills to improve store performance and operational efficiency, including retail operations management- record keeping, staffing, stock control and security procedures. Maximising retail profitability, including evaluating sales data, identifying improvement opportunities, and applying merchandising strategies. Marketing products effectively - basic retail marketing skills to support promotions, product visibility and brand positioning.

Strategic leadership & future planning, workforce development & talent management, change management and digital adoption, people, leadership & wellbeing management, operational & performance management. Businesses require managers who can demonstrate strong strategic leadership and future planning, workforce development and talent management, change management and digital adoption, people focused leadership and wellbeing management, and effective operational and performance management. Building these capabilities ensures leaders can respond to rapid technological change, manage skills gaps, and support resilient, high performing teams. Training should develop practical management capabilities including project management, change management, managing through crisis situations, supervising hybrid or home based teams, leading and motivating others, and building strong supervisory skills. Programmes should also strengthen interpersonal and developmental capabilities such as assertiveness, change and recovery management, coaching skills, developing individuals, and Insights Discovery profiling to support self awareness and team effectiveness. These subject areas are designed for new supervisors, emerging managers, and those seeking to upskill for career progression. Both accredited and non accredited options should be available. Non accredited workshops can be delivered as half day or full day sessions and should be contextualised to the specific needs of the business, particularly for bespoke contracts or sector specific requirements.

Businesses require marketing training across a wide range of evolving subject areas, including AI enhanced marketing skills, agile and adaptive marketing capability, data driven marketing and analytics, search engine optimisation SEO, content strategy and digital advertising, customer engagement and trust building, omnichannel and customer experience design, and advanced digital platforms and mobile first technologies. Alongside these, there is growing demand for brand creation and management, communications and PR, marketing strategy development, crisis communications, and video production, as well as understanding the difference between amplification and publication as businesses seek growth, explore new markets, or reposition for new audiences. Practical creative skills such as graphic design — particularly 2D/3D animation and Photoshop/Illustrator upskilling to enhance in house capability and deliver more impactful digital content. Digital marketing and social media skills are increasingly essential, enabling businesses to build visibility, engage target audiences, and compete effectively across fast moving online platforms.

Communication & interpersonal skills, teamwork and collaboration, adaptability & resilience, emotional intelligence & people skills, leadership & soft aligned skills, customer focused skills. Strong communication and soft skill capabilities to help teams adapt to rapid technological, economic and workforce change, clear and confident workplace communication, active listening, teamwork, collaboration, resilience, adaptability and emotional intelligence, as well as core interpersonal skills such as delivering effective presentations, problem solving, assertiveness and customer service communication. Training to mitigate the widening internal skills gaps and meet the growing importance of adaptability, creativity and strong communication. Seeking non accredited, introductory to intermediate level training, typically delivered in half day or full day formats, allowing staff to quickly upskill in essential, business ready soft skills that support productivity and workforce effectiveness.

Practical, compliance focused health and safety training that ensures staff are competent, up to date and able to manage modern workplace risks. Address gaps in documentation, risk assessments and ongoing training. COSHH Awareness, Human Factors in Health and Safety, IOSH Managing Safely, IOSH Working Safely, IOSH SHECW, NEBOSH qualifications, and broader Occupational Health and Safety training, support with legal duties around safe working environments. Fire risk awareness, mental health and wellbeing, and maintaining workforce competency through regular refresher learning. Alongside accredited options, non accredited, short format courses to provide flexible, cost effective, introductory or refresher training tailored to SME’s operational needs.

Essential electrical safety and compliance training, including the City & Guilds 18th Edition Electrical Wiring Regulations (full qualification and industry update) and PAT Testing and Inspection & Testing Upskilling for renewable energy systems, EV charging installation, battery storage safety, Lock Out–Tag Out (LOTO) procedures and electrical diagnostics. Ensuring staff remain competent, compliant and able to work safely with modern technologies. These may be delivered through accredited qualifications or short, non accredited practical courses to support flexible, cost effective workforce development.

Workforce development training that strengthens internal capability, particularly through Assessor and Verifier qualifications, Coaching and Mentoring, and Train the Trainer programmes, enabling businesses to build in house expertise, support staff progression and maintain quality assurance across learning and development activities. Delivered as accredited or non accredited options, offering flexible, cost effective pathways that allow organisations to choose between formal qualification routes or shorter, practical sessions tailored to operational needs.

Safeguarding, Child Protection and Adult Protection training to ensure staff can recognise, respond to and escalate concerns in line with current legislation and best practice. Autism training, including delivery aligned to D&A certificated programmes and SQA certificated courses, supporting organisations to work confidently and inclusively with neurodiverse individuals. Trauma Informed Practice, Mental Health First Aid, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) awareness, De escalation and Behaviour Support, and Professional Boundaries & Safer Working Practices, reflecting an increased emphasis on safe, ethical and inclusive service delivery. All programmes can be offered as accredited or non accredited options, providing flexible, practical learning tailored to organisational and sector requirements.

HR training to strengthens effective people management, support compliance and improve workplace capability. HR focused training in areas such as employment practice, performance management and fair work aligned people processes. Procurement training to help understand and navigate Scotland’s public procurement system, the Scottish Government’s SME and Third Sector Procurement Action Plan (2024–2026), improve supplier readiness and expand SME participation in public contracts. Training for procurement rules, compliance expectations, sustainable procurement requirements and effective use of Public Contracts Scotland. Tendering and bid writing: practical support to build confidence and competence in preparing competitive bids. Training to facilitate understanding of evaluation criteria and improved tender preparation directly and to win contracts. Training in tender structure, evidence development and persuasive, compliant bid writing.