Careers in School

Skills Development Scotland (SDS) is the national skills agency, and we deliver Scotland’s Career Service.

Our careers advisers deliver career information, advice and guidance in your school to pupils from S1-S6. We are there to help you understand the world of work and to develop the career management skills you need as you move through school and beyond.

Your school careers adviser is Jennifer Millar who is based in the Careers Room which is the first room on the left just before Pupil Support Base (Wing A). Jennifer can also be contacted at jennifer.millar@sds.co.uk or on 01555 476036.

You might meet your careers adviser in your class at a group activity, at a careers event, or at a one-to-one appointment.

Your careers adviser can speak to you about:

Understanding and developing yourself, your strengths, and your skills
Making your option choices
Career choices courses, training, and volunteering
CVs, applications, and interviews
Apprenticeships
Local and national job opportunities.

You can also visit our careers website My World of Work.

Beyond school, you can speak to our expert advisers in any of our SDS centres or community venues nationwide. We help people of all ages. You can find your nearest centre at myworldofwork.co.uk/centres.

My World of Work

My World of Work is your careers website and it’s packed full of tools and information to help you confidently make the best decisions for you.

There’s lots to do and explore and the more you tell the site about yourself, the more career ideas you’ll get just for you.

Follow your ‘to do’ list which guides you through the site as you go through school
Find out more about yourself with About Me, Strengths, and Skills Explorer tools
Explore career suggestions matched to your personality
Learn about routes into careers such as courses, training, and apprenticeships
Discover where your option choices could take you
Record and understand your skills and achievements
Get help with CVs, applications, and interviews

Discover and explore what your future could be at myworldofwork.co.uk

Support for parents and carers

My World of Work also offers a dedicated section for parents and carers, designed to help you with career conversations.

It is packed with information such as the industries offering exciting opportunities in Scotland and the different routes into careers.

And if you are looking with support with planning and managing your own career, the site can help you understand your skills, find and apply for a job, discover learning and training, and more.

Visit myworldofwork.co.uk

Apprenticeships

Foundation Apprenticeships

Foundation Apprenticeships can set pupils up for a big future with the skills employers need in some of Scotland’s most exciting and fastest growing industries.

A Foundation Apprenticeship is an option choice that allows pupils to get real industry experience while they are still at school.

Choose a Foundation Apprenticeship at SCQF Level 6 (the same level as a Scottish Higher) in S5 or S6, available in 12 subjects such as Engineering, Scientific Technologies, and Software Development.

There are also pilot SCQF Level 4 and 5 Foundation Apprenticeships in selected schools, for pupils from S3 to S6 in Construction, Automotive and Hospitality.

Here is a quick guide to Foundation Apprenticeships covering what to expect and how they differ from other school subjects.

Visit apprenticeships.scot/foundation to find out what’s available and to apply online. 

Apprenticeships.scot

Apprenticeships.scot is the place to go for apprenticeships in Scotland with all the information you need on how to become a Foundation, Modern or Graduate Apprentice.

Search and apply for apprenticeship vacancies across Scotland in a wide range of industries and create an online account so it’s straightforward to submit job applications. You can also sign up to the job alert to get the latest job vacancies in your email inbox each week.

No matter what stage you’re at, apprenticeships can help you get set for a bright future.

Foundation Apprenticeships: get industry experience, the skills employers need, and a recognised qualification while you’re still at school
Modern Apprenticeships: work, earn and learn and gain skills, experience, and qualifications along the way
Graduate Apprenticeships: get a paid job in key sectors, and gain industry experience while you work towards a degree

Visit apprenticeships.scot to find the right apprenticeship for you.

Digital World

Digital World provides information on the skills and training needed to work in Scotland’s tech sector.

Through case studies, and online learning tools, the site inspires school pupils to become digital humans, people who are able to challenge convention and make a real difference in the world through technology and creativity.

Visit digitalworld.net to find out more.

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