SMEs and barriers to skills development: a Scottish perspective

Reviews and elaborates on some of the major skills development barriers for small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs). The analysis reveals the influence of the prevalent SME culture to be significant. Other barriers that are identified refer to awareness, finance, access and provision of training and other skills development opportunities. By highlighting the difficulties that SMEs face in deciding to advance the skills of their workforce more formally, some government strategies are also discussed. The paper does this by reference to a number of recent qualitative and quantitative studies undertaken to investigate the attitude of Scottish SMEs towards learning and skills. The paper concludes by arguing that the continuous creation of new skills strategies, new initiatives, new (and at times misleading) names and labels in recent years has added to an apparent state of confusion among small and medium‐sized companies and their employees.