This week’s UKTN Podcast guest is ScotlandIS CEO Karen Meechan. In this episode, Meechan discusses how a shortage of digital skills is holding back an otherwise thriving tech ecosystem in Scotland.
Meechan has worked with ScotlandIS – an industry body supporting the nation’s tech sector – for 20 years. Meechan explains how bodies like ScotlandIS are working towards plugging the digital skills gap but need more support from the government at a local and UK-wide level.
ScotlandIS was formed in 1999 through a merger of various industry groups including the Scottish Software Federation.
The organisation manages various sector clusters in the country, with its member enterprises employing over 60,000 people.
Meechan explains how the education system in Scotland is not geared towards encouraging young people to explore work in the tech industry.
“Our challenge is: the curriculum that’s there at first and second year albeit it is just a taster is not enough for our young people to get excited about a potential career doing that all day because working with Microsoft Office and Word Art does not a graphic designer make.”
Meechan also discusses how the SME is the backbone of Scottish tech and why more government support is needed.
Listen to the full episode here, along with all previous episodes of the UKTN Podcast.
The UKTN Podcast is sponsored by HSBC Innovation Banking, which offers flexible banking solutions for startups, scaleups, growth businesses, investors and those working towards IPO.
Throughout the series, the UKTN Podcast speaks to some of the key movers and shakers from UK tech. We’ll learn growth strategies from both seasoned and up-and-coming founders, hear market sentiments from investors, and question policymakers on the decisions impacting the country’s innovation economy.
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