Call for industry to support ‘ joinedup approach’ in teaching digital skills to Scots
A partnership between a charity and commercial firms could have lasting benefits for young jobseekers, writes Chris Mccall
Adigital skills charit y has launched a new partnership with a communications giant to help make more extracurricular computing science activities available to young people across Scotland.
BT will work the Digital Xtra Fund, wh ic h i s ba c k e d b y th e Sc o t t i s h Government, and is calling on other businesses to follow suit.
Th e fu n d su p p o r t s ac t i v i t i e s aimed at encouraging young p eo - ple to better understand the rapidly expanding digital technology industr y and the employment opportunities available.
It aims to foster the next generation of digital makers and teach them the skills they need to succeed in the workplaces of the future.
Activities are primarily aimed at young people not previously engaged in digital technologies – especially girls and young women – or areas where t here is c urrentl ya l ack of resources or understanding around digital tech..
Th e fu n d wa s la u n c h e d i n May 2016 by the Scottish Government, in partnership with public and private sector bodies including Skills Develo pment Sc o t l a nd, Hi g hl a nd s a nd Islands Enterprise and S cotlandis, to act as a pivot point bet ween the private and public sector in order to more efficiently support digital skills activities for young people and help communicate career pathways. I t wa ss p u n o u t a s a n i n d e p e n d e n t charity in March 2017.
Mi n i s t e r fo r Fu r t h e r Ed u c a - tion Shirley- Anne S omer ville said: “The Digital Xtra Fund is a new and i nnovative approach bringing t he public and private sector together in a coordinated way to support digital skills for young people.
“I t i s cr i t i c a l th a t in d u s t r y al s o gets behind this joined up approach and supports the Digital Xtra Fund to e n s u r e e ve ry y o u n g p e r s o n i n Sc o t l a n d ha s th e op p o r t u n i t y to understand and create with digital technologies, as well as appreciate the future opportunities these skills will provide.
“On l y th r o u g h pa r t n e r s h i p an d co l l a b o r a t i o n ca n we ef f e c - ti ve l y in c r e a s e th e qu a n t i t y, an d importantly the qualit y, of digitally creative exp eriences f or all young people.”
Brendan Dick, director of BT Scotland, said: “We recognise the importance of a joined- up approach within industr y to address the digital skills gap and the role the Digital Xtra Fund plays in coordinating this.
It needs the support and financial backing of industry in order for it to have maximum impact and reach as many young people as possible. This is a real oppor tunit y for S cotland’s companies to come together and be part of the solution to the digital skills gap.”
Su p p o r t o f co m p a n i e s li k e B T will ensure the fund’s sustainabilit y. Other firms have also signed up, including Be Positive and Edge Testing.
Kraig Brown, development manager at the Digital Xtra Fund, said: “Sp eaking with companies across var i ous se c t or s , I of te n hear, ‘ Yes, digital skills are hugely important in our sector, but what can we do with limited time and resources’.
“This unfortunately leads to peaks and troughs in support and var ying levels of activity provision across the countr y. I encourage any business that understands the importance of digital skills for young people and the value of a coordinated approach to partner with the Fund.”
Last year t he f und s upp or t ed 22 projects across Scotland, engaging 15,000 young people. Applications for the most recent funding round, the first as an independent charit y, closed on 1 September.
Digital Xtra Fund is now establishing a 2018/ 19 funding round and is l o oking par tner with l i ke - minded individuals and businesses who are also keen to increase the availability of extracurricular computing activities for young people.