2025 Highlights Day 13: National Training Platform

We’re delighted to share the progress made on exploring a shared National Training Platform/Learning Management System (LMS) for Scottish Councils in collaboration with the Society of Personnel and Development Scotland (SPDS), COSLA and National Education Scotland (NES), setting a new standard for workforce development across Scotland.

A Vision Realised

Our shared ambition is clear: to create a unified, modern Learning Management System (LMS) that empowers every council to deliver high-quality, accessible, and consistent training. This “Once for Scotland” approach is about more than technology, it’s about building a culture of continuous learning, reducing duplication, and unlocking the collective potential of our public sector workforce.

What We’ve Achieved Together

• Discovery and Mapping: Through extensive mapping of LMS usage, we are understanding the current landscape. With 93% of responding councils already using an LMS, we identified common challenges such as limited reporting, manual HR integration, and accessibility gaps, that we are now addressing together.
• Strategic Options and Innovation: We’ve explored leading solutions, including the refreshed Turas platform (aligned with health and social care) and the advanced Cornerstone system, recently soft-launched at COSLA. Our focus is on finding the best fit for local government, supporting both national and local needs, therefore we are also considering what is currently used by councils and the potential around ‘best value for money’ through potential consolidation and collaborative procurement options.
• Defining What Matters: Councils have come together to shape a set of core requirements: seamless HR integration, robust analytics, mobile access, accessibility compliance, and the flexibility to blend national content with local customisation. These priorities ensure the (to be discovered) platform will be fit for purpose, future-proof, and inclusive.
• Collaboration at the Heart: This initiative is a shining example of cross-council collaboration by sharing knowledge, resources, and best practice to achieve more together than any council could alone, focussing on openness and innovation, with councils actively co-designing solutions and learning from each other’s experiences.

Strategic Alignment and Direction of Travel

• Digital Strategy for Scotland: This ambition is fully aligned with the Digital Strategy for Scotland, supporting digital transformation and workforce development priorities across the public sector.
• Integration with Health and Social Care: By aligning with the Turas platform and learning from the health and social care sector, we are ensuring interoperability and maximising opportunities for cross-sector learning.
• Towards a Shared Future: The direction is clear: a collaborative, cost-effective, and sustainable training ecosystem that supports every council and every learner. By pooling our expertise and resources, we are building a platform that will deliver value for years to come.

Next Steps and Continued Work

• Refining Requirements: We will continue to engage with councils to further define essential and desirable features, ensuring the platform meets the diverse needs of all users.
• Platform Demonstrations: Upcoming demos of Cornerstone and Turas will provide councils with hands-on insights and inform our collective decision-making.
• Business Case Development: Work is underway to develop a robust options appraisal and business case, considering technical, financial, and strategic fit.
• Collaborative Procurement: We are exploring opportunities for shared procurement to maximise value and efficiency.
• Content Strategy: Mapping and standardising training content will help us identify opportunities for shared resources and best practice.
• Ongoing Engagement: We will continue targeted outreach and cross-sector learning, ensuring every council has the opportunity to contribute and benefit.

The National Training Platform (LMS) initiative reinforces what can be achieved through partnership, vision, and determination. As we move forward, we celebrate the collective achievements so far and look ahead to shaping the future of learning for Scottish local government together.

Verity Hislop, Senior Project Manager, Digital Office for Scottish Local Government “The National Training Platform is an excellent example of collaborative improvement. By aligning councils around a shared, modern LMS with interoperability, accessibility, robust analytics and learning passports, we reduce duplication and unlock capacity. It’s a practical, people‑first way to strengthen skills and ensure consistent, high‑quality learning right across local government, delivering on the ‘Once for Scotland’ vision.”

Councillor Paul Kelly, COSLA Health & Social Care Spokesperson “The work to explore a National Training Platform for Scotland’s councils represents a significant step forward in realising our shared ambition to deliver consistent, high quality, portable training that supports our workforce across health, social work, social care, and the wider public sector". 

Douglas Shirlaw, Chief Digital Officer, COSLA “Through a ‘Once for Scotland’ approach, we are working collectively to establish a coherent, efficient, and sustainable model for learning and development across local government. The findings from this phase demonstrate a strong shared commitment to reducing duplication, strengthening interoperability, and improving the consistency and accessibility of training provision for all council staff. As this work progresses, it will provide a robust foundation for informed decision-making and ensure that any future platform delivers clear public value, supports cross-sector alignment, and meets the evolving needs of Scotland’s workforce”.

Sharon Dick, SPDS Digital Lead “SPDS is proud to champion this ‘Once for Scotland’ approach to workforce development. By working collaboratively with councils, COSLA and NES, we are helping to shape a modern, inclusive learning system that empowers every learner and strengthens our public sector. This initiative reflects our shared commitment to innovation, efficiency, and building a culture of continuous learning across Scotland.”