This paper examines shifts in skills policy in Scotland towards emphasising theimportance of effective skills utilisation. Turning policy into practice, however,requires a better understanding than currently exists of skills utilisation in order tofacilitate better measurement, evaluation and intervention. This paper aims tocontribute to such an understanding. We suggest that effective skills utilisationcomprises two distinct elements: the use of better skills and the better use of skills,with the former crucial to the development of a high skills economy and the lattercrucial to realising existing untapped workforce potential. We further argue that skillsutilisation is most likely where workers have the ability, motivation and opportunityto deploy their skills effectively. We conclude by advocating greater collaboration inskills utilisation practice and research between relevant stakeholders, drawing onEuropean experiences and an approach – which we call ASPiRRE – that envelopsactors, structures, protocols, responsibilities, resources and expertise in order to aligndistinct stakeholder interests and encourage innovative practice in skills deployment.
