Forth Valley College was selected recently to join the prestigious Great Futures UK Skills and Chartered Bodies Trade Mission to Saudi Arabia from Sunday 13 to Wednesday 16 April.
Following a competitive process organised by the UK’s Department for Business and Trade (DBT) – who were working in partnership with the Middle Eastern Kingdom – the mission invited Jamie Allan, FVC’s Global Partnership Manager, to join the delegation with dozens of other leading public and private skills and training providers and awarding bodies – comprising the largest ever trade delegation taken to another country by the UK Government.
Following a bi-lateral government agreement between the two nations, the Great Futures visit was designed to create opportunities and facilitate partnerships that drive outcomes within the UK-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council (SPC), support the UK’s Industrial Strategy and Saudi Vision 2030, and also coincided with the prestigious Human Capability Initiative (HCI) and EDGEx Education Global Exhibition events
The mission was led by the UK Government Special Representative to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for Education, Professor Sir Steve Smith, and various senior UK officials.
Jamie was joined in the capital Riyadh by senior representatives of UK education providers – including technical and vocational education and skills providers, English language teaching providers, further and higher education institutions and industry leaders focused on education delivery – who were all invited to participate in a series of high-level and bespoke activities to exchange expertise, explore innovative solutions and establish actionable frameworks for workforce development within the SPC. The Kingdom sees British expertise in technical and vocational skills and training as world leading and has significant demand to upskill and train its workforce across multiple sectors as the country enjoys rapid growth under its much-lauded Vision 2030 programme.
Engagements included:
- Roundtable discussions and workshops with key government ministries, agencies and stakeholders.
Business meetings with potential investors and partners. - Workshops and networking sessions with education institutions, key stakeholders, agencies and employers.
- Education and cultural activities to see skills development activity in progress and meet with other education institutions.
- Speaking opportunities and participation in panel discussions during the Human Capability Initiative (13-14 April).
- A one-to-one discussion with UK Government Minister for Education Stephen Morgan MP
- A reception at the British Ambassador’s residence with key Saudi government departments and private businesses
FVC’s representative was also selected to meet the Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Tourism, in a private round table meeting organised for a chosen few of the delegation who specialise in hospitality and tourism.
Whilst the majority of the delegation returned to the UK on Wednesday 16 April, Jamie joined three other delegates on Thursday 17 April to take advantage of a Women in STEM event - in conjunction with Formula 1 - at the coastal city of Jeddah. Providing an international perspective of how FVC engages with local high schools and leads in enabling women into STEM careers in Scotland, Jamie then attended a reception at the British Consul General’s residence with local business leaders.
Jamie, said: “To be selected to represent the UK on a key mission and be part of such an incredible delegation of the best in the country is testament to our track record and existing and future capabilities, as well as recognition from the UK Government of the immense value we can bring to Saudi Arabia. The sectors they seek specialist skills and training expertise in aligns with FVC’s core and UK-leading strengths: energy, STEM and construction; health and social care; hospitality and tourism; and creative industries.
“Not only did the visit allow me to learn about and witness the mind-blowing scale of projects and opportunities happening across the Kingdom first hand, but it also gave me various chances to pitch to key figures across their government and industry about why FVC should be a partner of choice to support their skills and training needs.
“Continuing to build key relationships with the UK DBT is proving extremely fruitful and they publicly state their support to assist our global ambitions. With invitations received to visit institutions in Saudi Arabia and plenty of positive discussions and contacts to follow up on, it’s clear to me that the Kingdom and the wider region has a significant number of opportunities for FVC that will be a key part of our international strategy in the years to come.”
