Delivering Scotland’s Future: Skills, innovation and opportunity

How can we unlock education and career opportunities to build a stronger rural Scotland?

We are delighted to be working in partnership with RSE to bring this one day conference to The Crichton. We hope you will be able to join us for a day of expert insights and conversations about the future of rural Scotland.

This one-day conference brings together community voices and organisational stakeholders from across Scotland and Northern England to explore how we can build a stronger rural economy by fostering skills development, innovation, and equal opportunities.

The conference will shine a light on the challenges and opportunities facing rural education, with a focus on tertiary education, reskilling, and upskilling the workforce.

Through the lens of rural experience, we’ll look at how innovation in curriculum and delivery can better support learners – and how we can break down barriers to achieve genuine parity of esteem across all educational pathways.

Please note: Your ticket gives you access to the entire conference day. It is not possible to purchase access to individual sessions or speakers. A small number of subsidised places are available, to find out more please email: public_engagement@therse.org.uk.

Tickets £50

Book to join

Conference running order

09:00–09:30

• Registration and refreshments

09:30–12:15

• Welcome and introduction to session one from Professor Sarah Skerratt, Chief Executive of the RSE
• Session one: The needs of the rural economy
  • Chaired by: Andrew Walls FRCS Ed et Eng, Convenor, Crichton Foundation
• Talk one: SOSE Youth Advisory Forum
• Talk two: Liam Middleton, Deputy Director of Economic Development at the University of Glasgow
• Break
• Talk three: Douglas Dickson, Principal and Chief Executive of Dumfries and Galloway College
• Q&A discussion

12:15–13:00

Lunch

13:00–16:45

• Welcome and introduction to session two: Panel discussions
  • Chaired by: Dr Janet Brown FRSE, Vice President, Education, RSE
• Panel discussion with Q&A: Innovating training, apprenticeships, and alternative pathways.
• Speakers:
  • Angela Cox, Principal & CEO of Ayrshire College
  • Mrs Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne FRSE, CEO and Founder, Genius Foods
  • Phil Robinson, Continual Improvement and Sustainability Manager, Jas P Wilson
  • Young person panel member from SOSE Youth Advisory Forum
• Break
• Panel discussion with Q&A:Achieving parity of esteem: Elevating the value of rural careers.
  • Speakers:
    • Douglas Morrison, Director of Operations and Future Skills at Construction Scotland Innovation Centre
    • David Lowe, Assistant Principal Delivery & Sustainability, Borders College
    • John McKendrick, Commissioner for fair access, Strathclyde University
    • Lynne Somerville, Skills Lead, Digital Dairy Chain, University of the West of Scotland
    • Young person panel member, SOSE Youth Advisory Forum
• Reflections with all speakers

16:45–17:00

• Closing remarks from Andrew Walls, Convenor, The Crichton Foundation