CODECLAN, the digital skills academy, has reported robust demand from employers looking to hire staff from its pipeline of graduates.

Chief executive Harvey Wheaton said the academy is playing a key role in helping companies fill the growing number of number or digital roles emerging in Scotland each year. It has stepped in as the digital skills shortage has been highlighted as a big concern by industry body ScotlandIS.

CodeClan, a not for profit organisation which runs academies in Edinburgh and Glasgow, has placed more than 100 graduates into work since its launch a year and a half ago. Around half of each 16-strong cohort is placed into work within six weeks of their respective course ending, with most of those being individuals looking for a career change.

Now CodeClan is mulling the opening of a third branch, amid research from ScotlandIS suggesting 10,000 to 12,000 digital vacancies are cropping up in Scotland each year. Dundee, Stirling, Inverness and Aberdeen are under consideration.

Mr Wheaton said CodeClan graduates are attractive to employers because have shown their dedication by investing in the courses. Mr Wheaton noted: “They have got to a point in their career where they want something different, so they are extremely motivated.” The 16-week course costs £4,500, and Mr Wheaton ultimately hopes up to 600 students will come out of CodeClan per year. This year it expects to produce 260.