Scotland is further bolstering its drive to be the “data capital of Europe” with the launch of a new series of digital skills training programmes aimed at retraining unemployed people aged under 30, across the country.
Led by non-profit youth employment organisation Generation UK, the scheme is being backed by is JP Morgan Chase Foundation and Microsoft to equip young people with the skills to pursue careers in technology.
The programmes are designed to train up under 30s for roles in the most in-demand technology skillsets in areas including data engineering, cloud computing and tech support.
With a particular focus on roles for women and ethnic minority groups, the programme will prioritise training for underrepresented groups across Scotland.
Research suggests that more than 70% of Scottish businesses find skills shortages are affecting profitability, with acute challenges in advanced technologies such as data analytics and software engineering.
The initiative is understood to be one of the first tech programmes of its kind launched across major Scottish cities.
Generation UK said it will be working closely with public sector bodies including Skills Development Scotland and DWP, charity and government run employability programmes and local employers to meet their needs and focus on some of the deprived areas in Scotland.
The organisation will work with The Prince’s Trust, building on a national partnership, to recruit and support learners.
Since its inception in 2019, Generation UK has worked to train young people across the UK with the necessary skills to access “life-changing careers against the odds”. The methodology combines profession-specific and practice-based training over multi-week boot camps with ongoing mentorship to help support learners overcome barriers.
Generation UK chief executive Michael Houlihan said: “We have a real opportunity to support meaningful and sustainable employment for many young people and bolster much-needed skilled talent to address business needs.
“Understanding the challenges that young people have faced around employment because of the pandemic is equally as important.”
JP Morgan Chase Foundation head of UK programming for global philanthropy Stephanie Mestrallet added: “Building a skilled workforce and ensuring that all students have access to the support and real world experiences they need is critical to building an inclusive economy that works for all.
“Too many young people, particularly those from underrepresented communities, are entering the workforce without the skills and resources they need. Collaboration between the public and private sector is key, and Generation UK’s launch in Scotland is an example of this in action.”
The initiative comes just days after the DMA partnered with Glasgow-based Sixth Sense Training, to create more entry-level roles and to help businesses across Scotland find a trusted provider for digital marketing apprenticeships.
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