Updates on COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Get the latest advice for businesses in Scotland on the response to the outbreak, including financial support and business relief

Search Our Skillsforce

Succession planning

Grow your leaders of tomorrow

Get in touch

Get in touch

Call us on

Phone

0800 783 6000

Opening hours: 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday

Or tell us what support you need

Support

Check out the top questions employers ask

Read FAQs

Need more support

Skills support request form
Quick find tool

Meet the future head on

Succession planning allows you to recruit and retain quality employees and develop their knowledge, skills and abilities. It also helps you prepare them for more challenging roles, and improve company performance even after your current leaders are long gone. And if you're thinking of moving on from your business, you'll need to choose the most appropriate option for you and your staff.

Some things to consider

If you’re thinking about a succession plan, consider what your organisation’s needs will be in the future. Think about future job roles that may not exist yet:

  • What’s the development strategy for your business?
  • Does it help you identify any potential skills gaps you have right now, or will have in the future?
  • What about your own talent pipeline? Maybe you already have people with the knowledge and skills to fill these new roles.

Get started

The good news is that pulling a succession plan together doesn’t have to be a major time commitment. Check out Investors in People's 10 tips. And you can:

  • Identify who needs to be brought into the planning stage. Once there, track their thoughts.
  • Identify the budding stars − potential is just as important as proven talent. Give them projects in different teams to widen their experience.
  • Understand the future requirements and strategy of the business.
  • Make the plan coherent and communicate it − just don’t tell employees who is being ear-marked for higher things.
  • Put contingency plans in place for critical roles in your business.

What’s next?

Need help?

  • Call our employer helpline on 0800 783 6000 and an Employer Engagement Adviser will be in touch.
  • Alternatively, contact us online using our quick skills support request form.
  • Or if you want free resources and more information about succession planning then visit Investors in People for more guidance.
  • You can also get free advice on succession planning from Scottish Enterprise.

More support with business change

Skills for Growth

Get up to two days of free consultancy to help define the skills your business needs.

Skills for Growth

How will Brexit affect your business?

Find resources to help cope with the uncertainty of Brexit.

How will Brexit affect your business?

What is Skills 4.0?

Learn how the skills businesses need to succeed in the near-future will be different - and how you can get ahead of the curve.

What is Skills 4.0?