Introduction from the Chair and Chief Executive

NHS Education for Scotland (NES) helps people who work in health and social care to get the education and skills they need to provide good quality care for people in Scotland.

It doesn't matter whether you work in health or social care or what your life experience is—we are here to support you. We provide education, training, workforce development, data and technology for health and social care in Scotland. Our goal is to create a workforce that meets people's needs, as well as the needs of staff, carers, and the people of Scotland by working in partnership with our staff, learners and stakeholders.

This document describes the purpose, vision and functions of NES before setting out our areas of focus for the period to 2026, framed around the themes of people, partnership and performance. Our strategy is deliberately concise, to provide clarity on our strategic intent and the difference we are seeking to make but allowing space for the detail of how we deliver to be developed in partnership and articulated in our Medium Term Plan and Annual Delivery Plans.

We are firmly committed to improving population health, reducing health inequalities and working nationally and locally with partners to make a positive and lasting impact to improving the wellbeing of the people of Scotland.

Over the next three years we will work with our learners, educators, partners and stakeholders to improve education and learning, using technology and innovation to create a better future for health and social care. Our focus is, and will remain, improving people's health and care outcomes through a competent, confident and skilled workforce while supporting Scottish Government's policies.