In early 2024, UHI informed the MGD Board of their intention to withdraw from the MAATIC project, due to a number of issues including financial affordability and a wider context of falling student numbers across the UK Higher Education sector.

Subsequently, the following was progressed:

• A series of workshops commenced in September 2025 (running until January 2025) to identify a re-imagined scope for a skills intervention project. The workshops have been supported by a diverse range of stakeholders including businesses, business organisations, academia, public agencies and elected members.
• The Growth Deal Team are now working to analyse workshop information and more news will be delivered in future updates.