Scottish Government seeks suggestion for updated digital strategy

Scottish Government, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh - Image credit: Scottish Government Flickr

The Scottish Government has launched an app for people to contribute suggestions for its updated 2017 digital strategy.

Ideas are being sought in six areas: connectivity, economy, skills, public services, participation and cyber security.

Finance minister Derek Mackay has written a blog post on digital following his keynote speech to SOCITM last week.

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In it he lists some of the key highlights in digital progress since the last strategy was published, including 85 per cent broadband coverage being achieved six months early, the launch of Scotland’s first industry-led digital skills academy, CodeClan, and a doubling of the student teacher intake for Comupter Science.

The current Scottish Government digital strategy was published in 2011 and includes the aims of enhancing digital connectivity, increasing economic growth by growing the digital economy, promoting digital participation and developing digital public services. 

The Scottish Government notes that “while the high-level aims of the strategy are still relevant today, the vast majority of the actions it describes have been delivered over the past five years”. 

“During this same period, the nature of digital, and our understanding of the opportunities it provides, have evolved, and the pace of change across the wider economy and society has accelerated,” it says.

The closing date for suggestions for the new strategy is 24 November and the strategy is due to be published early next year.