IRES 27+ Pitch

Over the past eight years, IRES has developed a connected regional employability and skills ecosystem across Edinburgh and South East Scotland, bringing together employers, education, local authorities, the third sector and other partners to respond collectively to the region’s skills and workforce needs.

IRES 2027+ is the next stage of that journey. It builds on what has already been created to strengthen regional coordination, respond to employer demand and connect people to skills, jobs and career progression.

Independent analysis by Dr David Waite (University of Glasgow) and Professor Stuart McIntyre (University of Strathclyde) recognised IRES’s particular strength as providing the “regional architecture” that connects employability, skills, employer demand and wider economic priorities.

Our new IRES 2027+ Pitch Document sets out the case for continued investment, the impact this could unlock, and the opportunity to build on the regional infrastructure already in place.