Scotland Policy Conferences

This conference focused on the future for health and social care reform in Scotland.

It brought stakeholders and policymakers together to discuss implementation of the Health and Social Care Service Renewal Framework and the Population Health Framework, as initial delivery plans are taken forward aimed at shifting care towards prevention and community provision, while addressing long-term system pressures.

Policy, implementation, resources & addressing pressures on the NHS
The future role of a national delivery organisation was examined, with the launch of Public Services Delivery Scotland expected in April 2026. We also expected discussion on priorities for addressing ongoing financial issues and future demand, as highlighted in Audit Scotland’s recently published NHS in Scotland 2025 report. Delegates also considered lessons that can be carried forward from the NHS Recovery Plan and the Operational Improvement Plan.

With the proposed move away from a hospital-focused model, sessions explored practicalities and strategic approaches to increasing community capacity, addressing challenges facing primary care, redesigning hospitals, and ensuring quality of care.

Delegates discussed resourcing and coordination required to achieve initial framework delivery plans, alongside implications for patients, local communities, the workforce, and health and social care system leaders.

Looking at funding, attendees considered priorities for targeting and effective utilisation of the nearly £22.5bn allocated to health and social care in the Scottish Budget 2026-27, including opportunities for improved productivity and efficiency.

Social care priorities, sector development & organisation
Further sessions assessed the rollout of measures under the Care Reform (Scotland) Act 2025, including Anne’s Law, improved support for terminally-ill patients, and enhanced rights for unpaid carers. Funding and structures needed to realise these aims were discussed, in the context of wider NHS-focused measures. Delegates examined the channelling of funding and support for workers announced in the Budget, and how concerns from some stakeholders around levels of funding and resources might be addressed.

Priorities for the National Social Work Agency were considered following its launch in March 2026, including delivery of the Strategic Plan for Social Work in Scotland. Areas for discussion included coordination across the sector, strategies to raise the profile of social work, and approaches to integrating co-production with the social sector and community into future national policy and practice, rather than top-down design.

The work of the National Care Service Advisory Board was also examined as it moves towards a permanent structure.

Those attending also looked at how provisions in the Care Reform (Scotland) Act align with broader aspirations for social care reform and expectations for non-statutory coordination mechanisms, as well as the scope for progress in addressing workforce challenges and ensuring sustainable funding.

Delivery, governance & stakeholder roles
Expectations for a future delivery organisation - having launched in April 2026 - were considered, including its role in supporting coordination between the Service Renewal Framework and Population Health Framework, embedding prevention and person-centred approaches across the system, and strengthening governance and accountability for reform delivery.

Delegates also considered next steps for the roles of local authorities, NHS boards, the third sector, and independent providers in establishing system-wide consistency, community involvement, and effective collaboration.

Immediate priorities for tackling health inequalities across regions were examined, looking at requirements for infrastructure and the workforce, including options for re-design, approaches to enabling functional workforce support, and effective frameworks for incorporating lived experience voices in policy and future planning.

Integration, service standards & access
Further sessions explored priorities for Integrated Joint Boards and Health and Social Care Community Partnerships in progressing integration and supporting community-based care, as well as ensuring high standards, sustainability, and consistent patient experience across the system. Strategy for a programme of population planning was considered, alongside ways forward for integration into the wider care system.

Delegates discussed digitalisation and collaboration with the life sciences sector as a key principle of service renewal, including partnerships between the NHS and private sector providers more widely, as well as a new approach to identifying promising medicines.

The impact of programmes such as Hospital at Home and the Digital Front Door service was considered, as will the wider role of virtual services in improving accessibility and community-based care through the National Innovation Adoption Pathway. Further discussion was expected on education and how best to achieve standards required to effectively deliver new services and medicines.

As well as key stakeholders those attending included officials from the Department of Health and Social Care; Department for Energy Security and Net Zero; Education Scotland; and The Scottish Government.

This conference examined priorities for infrastructure investment and delivery in Scotland, with a focus on the next phase of planning, investment, and implementation.

The agenda looked at key questions around delivery capacity, planning and consenting reform, investment and procurement, and approaches to ensuring infrastructure programmes support national and local priorities.

The discussion brought stakeholders and policymakers together to assess practical next steps following publication of the Infrastructure Delivery Pipeline and the draft Infrastructure Investment Strategy: 2027-2037, and how emerging priorities for delivery, sequencing, and investment can be taken forward in the context of cost pressures and long-term programme requirements.

Policy context, priorities and delivery readiness
With the draft Infrastructure Investment Strategy: 2027-2037 setting out Scotland’s approach over the next decade, delegates considered what is needed to translate strategic intent into deliverable programmes - including clarity on priority outcomes, governance, and practical measures for implementation. Expected areas for discussion included alignment with the National Strategy for Economic Transformation and implications for how infrastructure is used to support national economic growth objectives.

Practicalities for progressing priorities in the Infrastructure Delivery Pipeline were examined, including approaches to managing delivery timescales, cost inflation, and dependencies across the system. Further discussion was expected on the capacity and capability that will be required across delivery bodies and supply chains, including putting in place workforce planning and skills development, as well as supporting small and medium-sized enterprises.

Planning and consenting reform - governance, processes and capacity
Delegates considered priorities for improving the effectiveness of planning and consenting, including insights from the Key Agency Rapid Planning Audits and strategies for strengthening resourcing and recruitment, and advancing the use of digital and artificial intelligence tools. Discussion was expected to assess options for streamlining decision-making and coordination across agencies, alongside approaches to accountability and transparency in delivery.

We expected discussion on implications of the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 for electricity infrastructure consenting, and what can be learned for Scotland’s consenting system - including options such as clearer statutory timeframes, simplified cross-agency processes, and potential models for a more coordinated approvals pathway. Stakeholder calls for a longer-term strategy to 2050 were also considered.

Investment strategy, finance and building a credible pipeline
The conference looed at options for reconciling ambitions for growth with fiscal constraints, including the role the Infrastructure Strategy might play as a prospectus for investment and how best to coordinate with delivery and finance partners. Attendees discussed mechanisms for attracting private capital and inward investment, alongside practical options for public-private financing models and risk allocation.

Delegates also looked at priorities for investment prioritisation and pipeline credibility, drawing on learnings from the Infrastructure Investment Plan 2021-2022 to 2025-2026 and the Scottish Futures Trust’s 30-Year Needs Assessment. We expected discussion on what is needed to give delivery bodies and supply chains greater clarity on future projects and timelines, a transparent approach to prioritisation, and the conditions for sustained delivery - including involvement of partners such as the Scottish National Investment Bank, the National Wealth Fund, and UK Export Finance.

Sector delivery priorities - energy, transport, water and digital
In considering Scotland’s future infrastructure needs, sessions examined sector-specific priorities and delivery constraints across energy, transport, water, and digital infrastructure. Delegates assessed what may be required to support delivery of critical projects - including grid enhancement and storage expansion, approaches to energy security-related infrastructure, and progress on broadband rollout in rural and island communities - alongside practical steps needed to attract strategic investment. Delegates also discussed implications and allocation priorities for the £46bn infrastructure investment programme to 2030 announced by SSE, Openreach, ScottishPower, and Scottish Water.

Climate resilience, net zero and statutory environmental priorities
Next steps for embedding net zero and climate resilience across the infrastructure system were discussed, including implications of priorities set out in the Scottish National Adaptation Plan and the Climate Change Plan. Attendees considered what may be required in practice to align infrastructure investment and delivery with evolving climate risk planning and statutory biodiversity targets.

Sessions also considered priorities for net zero infrastructure and delivery pathways referenced in the Green Industrial Strategy, including what may be needed to support delivery in areas such as hydrogen and wind, and to strengthen resilience across supply chains and programmes.

Place-based delivery, social value and regional outcomes
Further discussion looked at approaches to place-based infrastructure planning and delivery, including alignment with National Planning Framework 4 and the Place Principle, and what this means for regional equity, connectivity, and community involvement in decision-making. The impact of the UK Government’s Local Growth Fund on investment plans and longer-term goals - particularly for connectivity, employment growth, and housing supply - were also discussed, with a focus on delivering the essential infrastructure needed to support local development. Delegates assessed how national, regional, and local delivery can be coordinated in practice, including roles for Regional Economic Partnerships and Community Planning Partnerships.

Attendees also considered priorities for achieving long-term objectives for infrastructure programmes - including approaches to community benefit and social value, supporting regeneration and town centre renewal through the Town Centre First Principle, and integrating infrastructure planning with housing delivery priorities. We expected discussion on how deliverability can be aligned with sustainability priorities, including conserving and upgrading existing assets alongside new development.

As well as key stakeholders those attending included parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons and officials from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government; Department for Energy Security and Net Zero; Department for Business and Trade; Transport Scotland; Office of Rail and Road; Health and Safety Executive; Great British Energy; and The Scottish Government.

This conference discussed the future for social care policy in Scotland, following the Care Reform (Scotland) Act receiving royal assent in July.

Policy, implementation & funding
It brought stakeholders and policymakers together to consider practical strategies for addressing ongoing challenges in the social care system, and priorities for implementing new legislation and forthcoming reform.

The conference was an opportunity to assess measures in the Act - including the level of structural reform, governance, accountability and funding sustainability - and what will be needed to address challenges in the system, including long-standing pressures around workforce and demographics, regional disparities, sustainable funding, digital infrastructure, and integration and accountability across services.

With The Scottish Government’s decision not to proceed with structural reforms outlined in Part One of the original National Care Service Bill, we expected a focus of discussion to be key issues in shifting the focus to establishment of a non-statutory National Care Service Advisory Board, and achieving the aim of delivering a practical, rights-based, and workable model for service improvement and national oversight.

Delegates considered practical priorities for implementing the Act, including delivering service improvements and supporting closer collaboration between providers, local authorities and the voluntary sector. Discussion was also expected on approaches to improving commissioning practices and accountability across delivery partners.

Further sessions examined funding priorities and approaches for moving towards securing long-term financial sustainability of services, particularly following concerns raised in an open letter to the First Minister, signed by over 200 third sector health and social care leaders. Stakeholders also considered the financial impact of The Scottish Government’s decision not to move forward with the establishment of a National Care Service and how hospital discharge delays are affected by the decision. Discussion drew on findings from the Audit Scotland report published in March, which highlighted concerns around declining service performance, record-high staffing vacancies, and ongoing financial pressures across Integration Joint Boards.

Information sharing, use of technology & tackling regional disparities
The agenda included discussion on addressing regional variations in care provision, and priorities for improving continuity and consistency. This included consideration of digital infrastructure, such as improving the use of care records and developing more effective information sharing between care settings. Delegates assessed priorities for the Scottish Digital Care Record and support for more integrated and person-centred care through improved data sharing across services.

Strategies for improving accessibility were also examined, particularly in rural and remote areas, alongside priorities for co-production, drawing on lived experience to inform the development of more responsive and inclusive approaches to care.

Workforce priorities & care standards
Sessions looked at next steps for supporting the social care workforce, including defining fair work standards in social care and how they are monitored, alongside priorities for workforce planning, retention, and domestic and international recruitment. Those attending also looked at how to reduce the number of staff leaving Scotland’s care sector to work in the NHS following pay increases in the health service, and the impact on overall recruitment and retention within social care.

With national social care need assessments due to be published, delegates considered how they can best support planning to meet future demand, including strategies for managing demographic pressures on services as the population ages.

Discussion also examined the outlook for professional leadership in social work in Scotland, as the Act prompts creation of a new National Social Work Agency. Further considered issues included the introduction of statutory breaks for unpaid carers, and wider measures aimed at providing greater support and recognition for unpaid carers more generally.

Further discussion was expected on care quality, including implementation of Anne’s Law to protect care home visitation rights, and support the health and wellbeing of care home residents, as well as developing personalised care and opportunities for improving continuity of care.

All delegates were able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates.

This conference focused on the future for qualifications and assessment in Scotland.

Stakeholders and policymakers discussed priorities for reform moving forward as the Education (Scotland) Bill progresses through Scottish Parliament.

The conference was also an opportunity to consider the role and governance of Qualifications Scotland as it replaces SQA, and priorities for the newly established Chief Inspector of Education in providing public assurance in the quality of education in Scotland’s schools, raising standards and improving outcomes for learners.

Delegates assessed progress in implementing recommendations outlined in It’s Our Future: Report of the Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment, and looked at next steps, including a hybrid approach to assessment utilising both continuous assessment and traditional examination. We are pleased to have been able to include a keynote session with Prof Louise Hayward, Lead of the Independent Review.

We also expected discussion on the Government’s decision to keep S4 exams, counter to recommendations from the Independent Review. Delegates considered strategies for improving outcomes at S4 level in subjects such as maths, and the potential for introducing compulsory subjects and easing limits on the number of subjects students can study at the Senior Phase.

The agenda looked at further proposals for reforming Scotland’s assessment system, including the Scottish Diploma of Achievement, and the potential impact of introducing Personal Pathways, Programmes of Learning and Project Learning. We also expected discussion on the introduction of a digital learner profile, with the aim of providing learners with a portfolio to facilitate progression to further study and employment.

Assessment for Highers and Advanced Highers was also examined, with the expected introduction of a wider range of methods, and reduced reliance on high-stakes final exams. Delegates assessed the potential impact of internal and continuous assessment on teacher workload and autonomy.

The agenda also examined opportunities and best practice for the use of technology, with discussion on digital and on-screen assessment options. Delegates also assessed implications of the rise in AI use including opportunities such as easing workloads, as well as challenges such as bias and impact on the teacher-pupil relationship. Priorities for improving technical literacy were also discussed, alongside addressing digital inequalities and improving accessibility for learners from disadvantaged backgrounds or with additional needs.

Further sessions looked at priorities for the teaching workforce, including digital upskilling, understanding new curriculums and assessment methods, and ensuring that both teacher and learner perspectives are considered in reforms. Discussion also considered the role of the Centre of Teaching Excellence in providing advice and support to the teaching workforce, and how the CTE can best support the workforce and improve educational outcomes.

Overall, areas for discussion included:

• policy: progress on implementation of Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment recommendations - next steps - Education (Scotland) Bill - proposed Scottish Diploma of Achievement
• next steps: priorities for assessment reform - options for broadening assessment methods - implementation of continuous assessment - maintaining traditional examination - use of technology
• priorities: building an effective qualifications system - providing equitable student pathways, both academic and technical - role of employers - recognition of qualifications by HEIs
• implementation: system design and delivery - accountability and oversight - coordination across the system - meeting the needs of colleges, universities, learners and employers
• teaching workforce: ensuring access to upskilling - implementation of effective teacher assessment - workload implications of reform - role of the CTE
• digital skills: equipping learners with skills for a future digital environment - opportunities and challenges posed by AI - remote and digital assessment and invigilation - addressing digital exclusion

All delegates were able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those who attended include officials from The Scottish Government; Education Scotland; and the RAF.

This conference focused on children in care in Scotland and progress in delivering The Promise, looking at the practicality of achieving its 2030 targets.

Stakeholders and policymakers discussed priorities for improving Scotland’s care provision moving forward, and for implementing effective measures to improve outcomes for children in care, care leavers and care-experienced adults.

We are pleased to have been able to include a keynote session with Fraser McKinlay, Chief Executive, The Promise Scotland.

It followed the recently published third report from the Oversight Board for The Promise halfway into its 10-year timeline, indicating that progress in meeting The Promise has been delayed by unexpected events and systemic barriers. The Board’s chair, David Anderson, was also a keynote speaker at this conference, as were Charlotte Wilson, Chief Inspector for Children and Young People; and Aileen Nicol, Promise Lead, Care Inspectorate. Delegates discussed steps which need to be taken to drive progress, including improving decision-making and increasing action around spending, as well as what can be learnt from positive changes so far, such as the increase in keeping siblings in care together.

Delegates discussed opportunities for multi-agency coordination to ensure that plans continue to progress, and how this can best be measured and tracked. It came with the recent publication of Plan 24-30, which sets out roles and responsibilities, changes that might be needed to meet key targets, and deadlines for implementation. We also expected discussion on implications of measures that recently came into force through the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act, including the impact of aims to improve support for young people in care and their families.

It was an opportunity to discuss budget allocations to support the delivery of The Promise, including priorities for utilising funding announced in the recent Scottish Budget. Sessions also examined milestones already reached from Plan 21-24, looking at outcomes in the context of recent reports from Who Cares? Scotland and COSLA highlighting concerns over implementation. Areas for discussion included the need to provide comprehensive support systems for those in care, stable, long-term housing for care leavers, increased training and support for the care workforce to increase capacity, and improved coordination and collaboration between agencies and services to provide holistic support for care-experienced children.

Further sessions looked at how to improve outcomes for care leavers, including how to improve education attainment levels, address mental health concerns and stigma, and increase access to housing and job opportunities. The role of local government and the third sector was considered, especially in the context of the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill which is currently progressing through the Scottish Parliament, and aims to identify how collaboration and good practice can drive forward meaningful change

All delegates were able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those that attended include officials from The Scottish Government; Education Scotland; DHSC; DoE, NI; and DCEDIY, ROI.

This conference examined next steps for energy policy in Scotland and the way forward for the planned transition to a net zero economy.

It was an opportunity for key stakeholders and policymakers to discuss priorities and strategies outlined in The Scottish Government’s draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan ahead of the expected publication of the final version, looking at implications for the energy sector, its partners, and the communities and customers it serves.

As the Government finalises its plans for energy policy going forward, areas for discussion included proposals for renewable energy, workforce transition and community engagement. Delegates considered Scotland’s evolving energy landscape in the context of wider UK policy, including the industrial strategy and recent commitments to establish Great British Energy in Aberdeen.

Sessions assessed what will be needed from policy, regulation and initiatives within the energy sector to achieve ambitions for doubling onshore wind capacity and enhancing offshore wind and hydrogen infrastructure, as well as the alignment of Scotland’s net zero targets with economic ambitions. Delegates considered immediate priorities, including resolving grid connection delays and ensuring sufficient capacity to accommodate expanded renewable projects. We expected discussion on frameworks for collaboration between Scottish and UK authorities, including coordination on regulatory processes, and funding for infrastructure upgrades critical to offshore wind and hydrogen production.

Attendees discussed how best to leverage Scotland’s natural resources to scale up green hydrogen hubs, as outlined in the Scottish Government Energy Strategy Position Statement, along with practical steps to accelerate infrastructure development and address private sector investment concerns. They also examined requirements for environmental safeguards to balance renewable energy development with marine biodiversity protection.

Further sessions assessed the progress and uncertainties surrounding CCUS initiatives such as the Acorn Project, as well as the role other technologies like Battery Energy Storage will play in the energy transition. Delegates explored how these technologies can most effectively support the decarbonisation of industrial clusters, considering funding, regulatory frameworks and timelines for implementation. Delegates examined strategies for workforce retraining and skills development to support the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. We expected discussion to draw on lessons from pilot programmes in Aberdeen, looking at mechanisms to ensure equitable access to opportunities, particularly in rural and disadvantaged regions.

Delegates also assessed how to foster resilience in renewable energy supply chains. Areas for discussion included enhancing domestic manufacturing capabilities and port infrastructure to reduce reliance on imports and promote sustainable growth. We also expected consideration on the broader societal impact of Scotland’s energy transition, assessing approaches to ensure that low-income households and rural communities benefit from investments while avoiding disproportionate costs. The role of public-private collaboration in delivering a just and inclusive transition was also discussed.

In summary, overall areas for discussion included:

• strategy: reviewing The Scottish Government’s draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan - implications for stakeholders and communities - priorities for the final version - UK energy policy alignment
• renewables expansion: proposals for onshore wind capacity - offshore wind development - hydrogen hubs in key regions - addressing grid connection delays and infrastructure capacity constraints
• workforce transition: strategies for retraining - addressing regional disparities in skills development - equitable access to green economy opportunities - learning from pilot programmes
• regulation: coordination and collaboration between Scottish and UK authorities - funding models for critical infrastructure - aligning decarbonisation targets with economic growth strategies
• environmental safeguards: energy development and marine biodiversity protection - frameworks for environmental sustainability - addressing long-term impacts on ecosystems during energy transitions
• investment: supporting private sector confidence in renewable energy - addressing funding barriers for hydrogen and CCUS - developing public-private partnerships on innovation and infrastructure
• CCUS: evaluating progress and uncertainties - funding and regulatory frameworks - setting realistic timelines for decarbonisation of industrial clusters
• supply chain resilience: enhancing domestic manufacturing capabilities - scaling port infrastructure to support green energy expansion - reducing reliance on imports for key technologies - investment in Battery Energy Storage to support green energy
• community and societal impact: addressing transition impacts on low-income households and rural communities - equitable benefit-sharing - mitigating disproportionate costs to vulnerable groups
• priorities going forward: Scotland’s energy policy implementation - establishing metrics for success - fostering stakeholder collaboration - strategies for achieving sustainable and inclusive growth

All delegates were able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those that attended include parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons and officials from The Scottish Government; CCC; DESNZ; Defra; MHCLG; DBT; NIC; Ofwat; and DECC, ROI.