January 2026 – Page 20 – The NEN

Protecting football fans from ticket touts

UEFA European Championship (Scotland) Bill passed

The Scottish Parliament has approved government legislation which will help ensure EURO 2028 in Scotland is fair and affordable for supporters and businesses.

At the heart of the UEFA European Championship (Scotland) Bill is a commitment to putting fans first by helping to safeguard against touts and preventing EURO 2028 tickets being sold above face value or for profit in Scotland.

It is part of a package of measures to make sure tickets are sold fairly and accessibly. UEFA has announced that more than 40% of tickets sold for the tournament will be in the lowest price categories and that there will be no surge or dynamic pricing. Tickets will be allocated through a ballot to avoid queues and pressure on fans.

An official UEFA resale platform will also allow tickets to be resold only at face value to avoid ticket touts. Resale outside the official platform will not be authorised, ensuring greater fairness for fans.

Provisions in the Bill will also protect commercial rights by preventing unauthorised street trading and advertising in event zones and give Police Scotland and Glasgow City Council the powers they need to enforce rules fairly.

Minister for Business Richard Lochhead said: “Scotland is the perfect stage to host three of the world’s top sporting events over the next three years – the Commonwealth Games 2026, the Tour de France Grand Depart 2027 and the UEFA EURO 2028 – bringing real and lasting benefits, from supporting jobs and local businesses to showcasing Scotland to millions of people around the world.

“The passage of this Bill confirms that Scotland is ready to co-host EURO 2028 in a way that is fair for supporters and businesses.

“This Bill put fans first, with strong protections against ticket touting and measures to tackle ambush marketing, so supporters can enjoy this once-in-a-generation event on equal terms.”

Executive Director of Supporters Direct Scotland Alan Russell said: “As supporters of our national game, and football in general, we welcome this Bill which we hope will keep tickets affordable and accessible to all.

“By banning the unauthorised sale of tickets for more than face value, UEFA have sent a clear signal that football is for the fans, and that profiteering by ticket touts is not welcome here.

“We’re looking forward to another fantastic tournament, with Hampden packed to the rafters with real fans, and can’t wait to follow Scotland all the way to the final!”

Around three million tickets are expected to go on sale across the tournament, which is being jointly hosted by Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland in June and July 2028.

Six matches will be played at Hampden Park in Glasgow and the Scottish Government is investing up to £73 million to support delivery of EURO 2028 in Scotland.

The tournament is expected to generate an estimated £270 million boost to the Scottish economy, supporting jobs, tourism and local businesses across the country.

£3.2 million of Scottish Government funding will help to reduce barriers to opportunity, bring communities together through shared national moments and showcase Scotland as a world class host of major events.

Adoption event offers residents in Edinburgh and the Lothians the chance to change a child’s life

A series of relaxed, no commitment, information events are being held by Kibble, a national children’s charity, for individuals and couples keen to explore adoption

Residents across Edinburgh and the Lothians are being invited to gather more information about adoption on Big Adoption Day 2026, with Kibble Adoption offering a series of free no commitment information events designed to show how adoption can transform lives.

The charity is hosting a series of free events, both online and in-person, for people exploring adoption as a route to parenthood. These events are to celebrate Big Adoption Day, led by Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies (CVAA) and children’s charity Corum, which aims to highlight the benefit of adoption, and the urgent need for more adoptive families to come forward.

In Scotland, there is an overwhelming number of children with plans for adoption and not enough adopters across the country.

Taking place on Wednesday 21 January 2026, Big Adoption Day brings together adoption agencies across the UK to celebrate the joy of adoption and provide potential adopters with accessible, practical guidance in a friendly, pressure-free environment.

Prospective adopters are welcomed to join an information session with Kibble Adoption to explore adoption at their own pace, learn about the process of becoming an adoptive parent, and understand its positive impact on children across Scotland.

The events are:

Open Day: Wednesday 21 January 2026, 10am – 4pm at Kibble Adoption, Abbeyfield House, 1 Station Road, Paisley, PA1 2SB
Online Information Session: Wednesday 21 January 2026, 7pm – 8pm. Free places are available, email to secure a place at kasrecruitment@kibble.org

Adopters who attended Big Adoption Day last year, and have successfully welcomed a child into their lives, said: “If you are considering adoption, you already have the room in your heart so we would absolutely recommend taking the leap and finding out more.”

Sandy Mayhew, Executive Director of Community Services at Kibble, said: “Big Adoption Day is a fantastic opportunity for anyone in Scotland considering adoption. It’s a chance to learn how you could make a lifelong difference to a child’s life.

“At Kibble, we provide comprehensive, personalised support at every stage – from the very first enquiry to life after placement. This includes 24/7 access to our expert team, dedicated transition support, professional training, and ongoing workshops to help families thrive.

“Adoption can change lives, and we’re here to guide families every step of the way.”

Kibble Adoption’s approach ensures that every child is matched with the right family, and that adopters have the support, tools, and guidance they need to create a stable, loving home. By participating in these events, Scots can discover how adoption is not just a journey for children, but an opportunity to enrich their own lives as well.

For more information about adopting with Kibble Adoption and to book a place at Big Adoption Day events, visit www.kibbleadoption.org

£21million contract recommended for approval for retrofit and upgrades at Craigmillar and Peffermill Court

Project forms part of the Council’s wider Strategic Investment Plan for high-rise buildings and will bring both blocks up to modern standards

Thurday’s meeting of the Finance and Resources Committee recommended the approval of a £21 million contract to Kier Construction to deliver a comprehensive retrofit and upgrade programme at Craigmillar Court and Peffermill Court, two 15 floor blocks in East Edinburgh.

Built in 1968, the two floor blocks currently have no insulation, making homes difficult and expensive to heat. The retrofit will introduce extensive external wall insulation, dramatically improving thermal performance and helping homes retain heat more effectively. These upgrades are expected to create warmer living spaces and reduce heating costs for residents throughout the year.

To further improve indoor air quality and tackle long-standing issues with damp and mould, each flat will be fitted with a mechanical ventilation and heat recovery (MVHR) system. This will provide a continuous supply of fresh air while retaining heat, supporting healthier and more comfortable homes.

Other improvements include:

fire safety enhancements including installation of new fire doors, sprinkler systems in every flat and a dedicated firefighting lift in each block
existing bin chutes will be removed and replaced with a new on-site waste strategy
security will also be strengthened through the installation of a comprehensive CCTV system, covering all stairwells and common lobby landings
almost all mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) services will be replaced where they have reached the end of their life or are difficult to maintain
larger, brighter entrance lobbies, increased natural light and new canopies to provide shelter from the weather. Concierge facilities will be significantly upgraded
new and improved shared spaces will encourage interaction between residents and support activities with the wider community, making better use of previously underutilised areas within the buildings.

The surrounding environment will also be transformed, with:

additional tree planting
relocated and expanded allotments
a renovated and improved play park
realigned parking and improved access between both blocks
new waste and recycling facilities

Craigmillar Court and Peffermill Court each contain 57 two-bedroom homes.

This major investment represents a long-term commitment to improving living conditions, reducing carbon emissions, enhancing safety and creating more welcoming, sustainable communities for current and future residents.

Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener Cllr Tim Pogson, said: This £21 million investment represents a major step forward in improving the quality, safety and sustainability of our high-rise homes.

“By upgrading insulation, ventilation, fire safety and communal spaces, this project will deliver warmer, healthier and more affordable homes for residents, while also ensuring these buildings are fit for the future.”

Reimagining secure care

Consultation open for views on proposals on the future of secure care

Proposals to strengthen the sustainability of secure care and enhance the support available to vulnerable children are being consulted upon.

The consultation seeks views on a range of proposed reforms to future secure care services, which will continue to be a critical part of Scotland’s child welfare and justice systems.

Among the proposals are:

whether secure care should be nationalised or nationally coordinated
models from the ‘Reimagining Secure Care’ report, including community-based hubs that are designed to deliver early intervention, crisis support and ongoing care within a child’s own community
new models for the funding and commissioning of secure care settings
standards for the safe transport of children to and within secure care.

The proposals will ensure that children’s rights are at the centre of secure care services, aligning further with the incorporation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into Scots law and the Scottish Government’s commitment to The Promise.

Promise Minister Natalie Don-Innes said: “This national consultation marks a significant moment in our journey to reimagine how we care for and support some of the most vulnerable children in Scotland.

“Every child in secure care deserves support that is therapeutic, understanding of their experiences, and tailored to their individual needs. This consultation explores how we can create a system where children receive the right care, at the right time, in in environments that support their recovery and rehabilitation, keep them connected to family and community, and prepare them for positive futures.

“Your views will help shape a secure care system that places children’s rights at its heart, ensures secure care remains a last resort, and gives every child the best chance to thrive.”

The consultation on the future of secure care is open for views until 16 April 2026.

Multiple issues limit the ability to tackle harms of substance misuse in Scotland’s prisons, says Holyrood Committee

Workforce pressures, resource constraints and severe overcrowding are exacerbating issues related to substance misuse in Scotland’s prisons, says the Criminal Justice Committee.

The Committee’s inquiry into substance misuse in prisons looked at how substances enter Scotland’s prison estate, the impact of substances in prisons, and rehabilitation and support services.

The Committee found that substance misuse in custody remains a systemic challenge across the prison estate, and reflects deep-rooted societal issues such as poverty, trauma, inequality and mental ill-health. It says systemic reform which treats substance misuse in Scotland’s prisons as a public health issue, not a justice one, is essential to tackle it effectively.

Evidence is highlighted by the Committee of prison healthcare teams often operating under pressures that would be deemed unacceptable in community settings, including chronic understaffing, limited clinical space, high levels of acuity, and inadequate digital infrastructure.

The Committee say persistent and extreme overcrowding in prisons also acts as a major barrier to preventing substance misuse issues and providing effective care.

Highlighting the variations in healthcare provision between NHS Boards and wider health system failings, the Committee say that without significant improvement to the capacity, governance and integration of health and social care services for people in custody, prisons will struggle to absorb unmet clinical needs.

On supply and security, the Committee found that total prohibition is unrealistic in an era of synthetic cannabinoids and nitazenes, and that organised-crime networks continue to exploit vulnerabilities in the prison environment.

Although improved technology and the use of window grilles can limit supply, the Committee say success must be measured by reductions in harm and demand, not simply by the number of seizures.

Mental-health care is an area of particular concern to the Committee and the report highlights evidence of inconsistent access across the prison estate. The Committee is calling for parity between custody and community services to reduce harm and improve post-release outcomes.

The Committee say data gaps limit understanding of the true scale of the harm of substance misuse in prisons and the effectiveness of interventions, and more must be done to improve data transparency and evaluation.

The vital importance of the transition from prison to the community for individuals dealing with substance misuse is highlighted in the report. The Committee say the period after release poses the highest risk of overdose and death and that every individual should leave custody with an integrated, person-centred release plan, including verified prescriptions, housing, and GP registration.

The significant emotional and psychological strain prison officers, healthcare staff, and voluntary-sector partners face is also highlighted. The Committee say increased support and a trauma-informed approach must apply to staff as well as those in custody.

This inquiry has highlighted that tackling substance misuse requires a whole-system approach. The Committee has agreed to continue working with justice partners, health services, and communities to deliver meaningful change.

Criminal Justice Committee Convener, Audrey Nicoll MSP, said: “Our inquiry illustrates clearly that substance misuse in Scotland’s prisons is not simply a justice issue, it is a public health one and can only be tackled effectively by being treated as such.

“The evidence we have gathered reveals a prison system and staff under extreme pressure, with issues such as under-resourced services and overcrowding exacerbating the myriad impacts of substance misuse in prisons. The goal is clear: to break the cycle of addiction and reoffending, and to protect lives.

“It’s clear more must be done to reduce pressure on the workforce and reduce overcrowding, and ensure adequate resourcing of services, particularly specialist staff – all of which are vital to tackle substance misuse in prisons.

“But these issues cannot be understood in isolation from the broader social determinants of health and justice. Systemic reform which prioritises recovery, rehabilitation, and reintegration is essential in order to begin to tackle the complex and intertwined issues related to substance misuse.

“Our Committee is determined that this inquiry is not the endpoint of scrutiny, but the foundation for continuing parliamentary oversight of progress in reducing drug and alcohol harms in custody and improving outcomes for individuals.

“The Committee recognises the extraordinary efforts of prison officers, healthcare staff, and voluntary-sector partners who operate daily in difficult and often dangerous circumstances. We’d like to thank everyone who has engaged with our inquiry and informed our scrutiny.”

Verdict on 19 years of SNP power: Edinburgh Union hosts Election Debate

On Monday 19 January, the Edinburgh Union will host a landmark debate on the motion: This House Has No Confidence in the Scottish Government Ahead of the Holyrood Election.

With the Holyrood election fast-approaching, this debate will examine the legacy of nearly two decades of SNP governance and assess the Scottish Government’s record across key policy areas. The event will bring together MSPs and election candidates from across Scotland’s major political parties to debate the motion and put their arguments directly to the audience.

Alongside guest speakers including Paul McLennan MSP, Katherine Sangster, and Alex Cole Hamilton MSP, student speakers from the University of Edinburgh will also take opposing sides in the debate.

The audience, comprising students and academics from across Edinburgh’s universities, will have the opportunity to question speakers and ultimately vote on whether they retain confidence in the Scottish Government ahead of the upcoming election.

This debate marks the beginning of the Edinburgh Union’s summer term programme. Following a series of sold-out events last semester, the Union continues its mission to provide a platform for open, rigorous debate on contemporary political and cultural issues in Scotland’s capital.

The forthcoming term card includes debates on whether immigration is the biggest issue facing the UK, and if NATO can solve modern security challenges – as well as a Varsity debate against the Cambridge Union.

Each debate takes place in Rainy Hall, New College, and offers audience members the opportunity to engage directly with speakers from across the political spectrum in a traditional Union-style format.

Finn Tyson, President of the Edinburgh Union, said: “With the Holyrood election approaching, this debate gives students and the wider academic community the chance to assess the record of the Scottish Government and directly question candidates seeking to govern Scotland.

“The Edinburgh Union exists to foster open, challenging, and respectful debate. Our events are open to all students, and we are proud to bring together voices from across the political spectrum to start this semester with an event centered on democratic engagement and rigorous discussion.”

Palestine Solidarity Campaign: Statement on the Hunger Strike

PSC expresses its immense relief that that imprisoned activists Heba Muraisi, Kamran Ahmed and Lewie Chiaramello have ended their hunger strikes.

This announcement follows the disclosure that Israeli weapons company Elbit Systems has been denied a £2billion army training contract by the Ministry of Defence.

We remain concerned for the safety of Umer Khalid, who is on day 6 of his resumed hunger strike.

We welcome that as a result of the hunger strike, some of the prisoners have started to receive withheld mail and that a meeting between leaders of prison healthcare and representatives of the prisoners has taken place.

However, we continue to demand that prison authorities do everything required to ensure the safety and rights of these prisoners, including providing them with the necessary ongoing medical care and that they be held in prisons accessible to visits from family and loved ones as is their right.

We thank all PSC members and supporters who joined protests, lobbied their MPs, and phoned the prisons in order to support the hunger strikers.

The continued imprisonment of Palestine solidarity activists is a disgrace. It is the architects and enablers of Israel’s genocide in Palestine – both arms companies like Elbit Systems and the British political leaders who provide Israel with diplomatic, military and political support – who should be facing trial.

As Kamran says in his moving statement, referencing the Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, “perhaps the government thinks that they’ve turned out our lights. But the wick remains long and full, ready for me and you to continue being a candle in the dark.”

We must all redouble our efforts to end Britain’s shameful complicity in Israel’s genocide, military occupation and apartheid against Palestinians.

NSPCC reveals almost one in four adults in Scotland believe current sex education does not help children understand online abuse

Charity calls for change at Scottish Parliament event

24% of adults in Scotland believe that current Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenting (RSHP) education does not help children to understand online abuse
95% believed it was important to include content about online safety risks and staying safe online in relationships and sex education in schools
Provision of this education in Scotland is patchy and inconsistent
NSPCC calls for mandatory provision, more detailed guidance and greater prioritisation in the curriculum

The NSPCC reveals that almost one in four adults in Scotland (24%) believe that current Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenting (RSHP) education does not help children to understand online abuse, as the charity calls for it to be made age-appropriate, consistent and relevant for all children in the country.

The YouGov poll, which was commissioned by the NSPCC and surveyed over 1,000 adults across Scotland, also found that95 per cent of participants believed it was important to include content about online safety risks and staying safe online in relationships and sex education in schools and that over two-thirds of adults (67 per cent) believed it should be made compulsory.

The charity held an event at Scottish Parliament on Wednesday (14 January) to highlight why it is vital that the Scottish Government introduces a statutory duty for schools in Scotland to provide relevant relationships and sex education.

The charity is also calling for RSHP to be an educational priority and mandatory part of the curriculum, and for schools to receive more detailed guidance on the subject so there is consistency in the way it is taught.

At the event, which was sponsored by Martin Whitfield MSP and led by young people, speakers and guests were asked to explore why RSHP education is so important for children and young people.

One young woman’s terrifying experience of being sexually exploited online by an older man was read out at the event.

Aoife, 22, from East Kilbride, was 15 when a man, pretending to be a teenage boy, started chatting with her online and asked her to send him images of herself. He then attempted to control her behaviour by blackmailing her with these, threatening to share them with her friends and family on Facebook.

Aoife, NSPCC Lived Experience Advocate, said: “Through what started as a casual conversation online, he was able to start controlling what I did in real life, within a matter of hours. I remember it was 3am and I was sitting in my room, just shaking. I felt like I was the only person in the world and started crying.

“I want to help to make children safer online by sharing my story because, right now, the online world isn’t safe enough. I would like to help prevent other young people from going through the same experience as me in the future.

“You might hear stories about things like this and think ‘it won’t happen to me’. Parents think ‘that won’t happen to my children’ but it does. I want to raise awareness of that and help change things.

“If any other young person experiences this, I’d urge them to tell an adult they trust straight away. It feels like the worst thing in the world at the time but telling a trusted adult is the only way you can get the help you need.”

Rachel Talbot (19), from Angus, NSPCC Lived Experience Advocate, said: “At my school RSHP was taught the same way as English or Maths which made the whole experience incredibly awkward and difficult to properly engage with class discussions.

“It’s a personal and often sensitive topic so it’s better to teach smaller groups where the young people can develop trust, rather than having them ask awkward questions in a large class.

“The online world is such a central part of growing up now and young people need to know how to look out for themselves in these spaces. It’s especially important that discussions around the types of content they might come across is at the forefront of the curriculum.

“Young people are often exposed to inaccurate representations of healthy relationships and sex online, and if this isn’t discussed, they could develop an unhealthy view of how these things should work in the real world.”

While RSHP is part of the health and wellbeing area of Curriculum for Excellence, local areas have discretion about what is taught and when.

The NSPCC has found from its campaign work across the country that young people think the delivery of RSHP education is patchy and insufficient and the charity believes that many children could be missing out on vital knowledge that could protect them from harm and abuse.

Joanna Barrett, NSPCC Associate Head of Policy, said: ““Unfortunately, we know from our work with young people across Scotland that not all pupils receive relevant and consistent relationships, sex and health education.

“In all other nations in the UK it’s mandatory to teach this subject to children and young people. It helps them recognise healthy and unhealthy relationships and abusive behaviours in others and themselves, and we believe it can help to prevent harm to children, online and offline.

“Young people have a right to this fundamental education, and to be involved in influencing the way it’s delivered, so that it’s up-to-date and relevant to them.

“We are calling on the Scottish Government to prioritise RSHP education and ensure that teachers and schools are adequately resourced to deliver it.”

The youth-led Young Women Know campaign on healthy relationships, safe spaces, and consent on and offline was delivered by NSPCC Scotland and The Young Women’s Movement, over the last six years, with support from Angus Council, Perth and Kinross Council and Dundee City Council.

The young women who led the campaign, which included the ‘Oor Fierce Girls’, ‘Bold Girls Ken’, and ‘Brave Lassies Blether’ projects, created resources which have been added to the Relationships and Sexual Health and Parenthood (RSHP.scot) education website for children and young people.

This means they are available to schools, colleges and community-based learning as part of the Curriculum for Excellence.

Young people looking for support on any of the issues mentioned, can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or visit Childline.org.uk. Childline is available to all young people until their 19^th birthday.

£36 million to expand walk-in GP services

Investment will improve same-day access to urgent care

People will benefit from faster access to GP care as part of a £36 million investment announced in the Scottish Budget.

The funding will support the rollout of a new network of walk-in General Practice (GP) services, designed to make it easier for people to see GPs and other primary care clinicians quickly for urgent health concerns without needing an appointment.

Fifteen walk-in service centres will be established, with services focused on urgent, on-the-day primary care needs, similar to the care currently provided by GP out-of-hours services.

Services – which will be open 12pm-8pm, seven days per week – will allow people to attend without a prior appointment and will complement existing GP practices, NHS 24, community pharmacy, and hospitals.

Visiting the first future pilot site to be announced – Wester Hailes Healthy Living Centre – Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Neil Gray said: “This £36 million investment will help more people get the right care, in the right place, at the right time. Walk-in services will make it easier to access urgent care on the day it’s needed, while easing pressure on GP practices and hospitals.

“Open seven days per week, between 12pm-8pm, our new walk-in centres will ensure people can get the care they need at a time that works for them – and will deliver over one million additional GP and nurse appointments.

“The funding for the walk-in services is just part of almost £22.5 billion allocated to health and social care, including a record £17.6 billion for NHS services and resources. Our continued investment in the NHS is allowing us to target areas which are experiencing long waits, reducing backlogs, and getting people the appointments and treatments they need as quickly as possible.

“I am determined to keep driving forward improvements so everyone can get the care they need, when they need it.”

Tracey McKigen, Director of Primary Care for NHS Lothian, said: “We are working closely with Wester Hailes Healthy Living Centre, the Edinburgh Health and Social Care partnership and the Scottish Government to shape proposals for piloting a new walk-in GP service.

“While plans are still being refined, we believe the new service will help improve access to primary care and complement existing local health services.”

Energy Minister opens SGN’s state-of-the-art training centre

SGN – Scotland’s gas network – has opened its new national training centre, a flagship investment that strengthens the company’s long‑standing commitment to Scotland and reinforces its position at the heart of the country’s energy sector.

The state‑of‑the‑art facility in Cambuslang, Glasgow, was officially opened by Energy Minister Michael Shanks MP yesterday [Thursday 15 January], who praised the company’s commitment to ensuring a highly skilled workforce to deliver a secure and resilient energy system for decades to come.

The new centre, complete with a ‘Safety Street’ consisting of replica properties, brings together advanced technology, hands‑on learning environments and expert tuition. The flagship centre provides immersive, real-world simulations – from high-pressure control rigs to a two-storey ‘safety street’ – as well as six technology-enabled classrooms. It is designed to set a new benchmark for training and safety across the sector.

It will play a vital role in developing SGN’s highly skilled workforce, equipping up to 600 engineers, apprentices and trainees each year with the skills needed to support Scotland through the energy transition.

Speaking at the event, Energy Minister Michael Shanks MP said: “The gas network will continue to play a key role in our energy system as we transition to clean, more secure, homegrown energy – with Scotland to benefit from an extra 40,000 good jobs in clean energy sectors by 2030.

“For decades, Scotland has been at the heart of Britain’s energy sector, and SGN’s new training centre will equip the next generation of Scottish engineers with the skills to continue this legacy in powering Britain.”

Simon Kilonback, Chief Executive Officer at SGN, said: “SGN is a highly skilled engineering organisation playing a critical role in today’s energy system, and this state-of-the-art facility demonstrates our commitment to training, skills and operational excellence. It represents a major investment in our people and our future workforce.

“Our new national training centre also highlights our commitment to Scotland and to our 2m household and industrial customers who rely on us every day.

“Through the delivery of industry-leading training, we’re ensuring our teams have the skills, confidence and expertise to deliver a safe, resilient gas network that will be at the heart of Scotland’s energy system for years to come.”

During the event, Minister Shanks had the opportunity to experience the cutting-edge facilities and speak with SGN colleagues including trainees, apprentices and long-serving colleagues.

He also met multi-skilled specialist trainers who will deliver courses for each frontline role. They will ensure each operative receives tailored development with a particular focus on the most important safety-critical tasks.

To ensure the facility will support all colleagues, around 100 stakeholders also helped shape the redesigned training materials to be more inclusive and accessible for neurodiverse colleagues, ensuring every learner feels supported.

The new training centre will transform SGN’s training offer and is part of a network of high-quality facilities in Scotland which are redefining skills and training across the organisation.