Academy launched for digital workforce

A fast-track coding school has been launched amid concerns about a lack of skills in Scotland’s digital sector.

CodeClan, a dedicated software academy to upskill IT workers in an attempt to bridge Scotland’s digital skills gap, will enrol its first students in the autumn.

Based in Edinburgh, the academy will train over 1,000 students in its first three years.

The school aims to produce software developers ready for work every 10 weeks, with the first cohort graduating in February 2016.

People with transferable skills such as those working with sequences and patterns like textiles or music will be encouraged to enter into the sector through 16-week intensive courses in web and mobile software development.

This follows figures from industry body ScotlandIS which predict the Scottish digital technology industry requires 11,000 new entrants every year, with traditional routes such as colleges, universities and apprenticeships set to produce less than half that number.

ScotlandIS has been backed by the Scottish Government in the scheme, which will see graduates achieve awards developed with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).

CodeClan is based on a model which has proved successful in other countries, including Flatiron School in New York, Makers in London and Stackademy in Berlin.

John McClelland, Chair of Skills Development Scotland welcomed the academy. “Scotland is ideally-placed to take advantage of the global growth in the ICT and Digital Technologies sector, and the launch of CodeClan will offer many people the opportunity to be a part of that.

"As well as helping people forge an exciting career, it’s also a key development for industry, who need cutting-edge software skills if they are to thrive in this competitive marketplace,” he said.

Nigel Eccles CEO of successful fantasy sports web-based game FanDuel said: “We need developers in the tech talent pipeline not just in Edinburgh but throughout Scotland. The growth of any company correlates precisely to the skills and experience of its people. We have found great talent here and we are looking forward to seeing the next generation emerge.”