Levelling the Stage – Prioritising Skills Development for a Fairer, More Inclusive Music Industry

Scotland’s music industry is full of promise and paradox. This provocative panel explores the contradictions at the heart of skills development in a sector often shaped more by on-the-job learning than by structured progression and needs-led training. As cultural investment increases and conversations around equity deepen, how can Scotland build a truly inclusive, future-ready music workforce?

Drawing on lived experience, research and industry insights, our panellists will interrogate what meaningful education looks like in a sector largely comprised of small businesses and freelancers. Where do formal training and lived experience meet, and how can we design development pathways that recognise different learning styles and access needs?

The session will consider the opportunities and challenges around long-term skills growth, particularly for leanly resourced organisations and freelancers under evolving fair work policies. What can we do to strengthen networks, empower workers and support sustainable, values-led careers?

Join us for a candid discussion on building not just skills, but a fairer, more innovative and more equitable music industry for all.