By Nick Stapleton, managing director at ETB Technologies
Is there anything more frustrating than untapped potential? Well, it’s a problem the Scottish tech sector is facing when it comes to preparing the next generation of talent. While we’re rich in opportunity, without the right tools, that potential will remain unfulfilled.
There’s no denying Scottish tech is, in a lot of ways, thriving. With the rapid growth of the cyber, managed service provider, fintech and space sectors – the country is quickly earning a seat at the global table. But beyond the surface lies a problem that, if left unaddressed, could be the very undoing of our industry. We’re running out of the right skills.
For years, the education system in Scotland has failed to equip young people with the right digital skills. Greater collaboration between government, education and business is necessary to ensure students develop core digital skills from an early age. And while Scotland is making progress here, when you compare it to places like Estonia where 90% of general schools offer IT and technology classes, we have a long way to go.
In Scotland, thousands of kids are missing out on vital skills like coding and programming due to shortfalls in funding meaning tech businesses are finding it harder to recruit skilled workers. And without a steady stream of talent, they will have no choice but to try and attract workers from other parts of the UK and abroad; stifling Scotland’s growth in an already competitive market.
While this isn’t something that can be addressed by a ‘one size fits all’ answer, there are steps the industry can take to prepare Scotland’s next generation of tech leaders. For example, businesses have an opportunity to form local partnerships that provide hands-on, practical experience in STEM subjects.
Take our partnership with Dalbeattie High School (DHS). With many rural areas facing limited access to digital education and training, it was putting young people at a disadvantage in an increasingly tech-driven job market. In 2022, we collaborated with DHS to offer a series of workshops for S3 students. This meant students were given hands-on experience in IT to build the relevant basic skills and gain an insight into possible pathways for careers in the sector. Following the success of the sessions, we’ve actually worked closely with DHS and the SQA to develop a new National Progression Award for digital skills.
Practical partnerships, like this, are essential for nurturing Scotland’s next generation of tech leaders, ensuring students, regardless of location, are equipped with the expertise needed to thrive in the evolving digital landscape.
The demand for tech talent is increasing, and without sufficient digital literacy, Scotland's tech industry risks falling behind. To secure the future, we must develop our next generation of talent by leveraging the combined resources of government, education and business. Only by equipping young people with the right skills can we ensure their success—and the success of Scotland’s tech industry as a whole.
This article was first published in The Herald 13th November 2024
