LIZ CAMERON
“Technology has been pivotal in shaping and driving innovation in every facet of our lives, from the global economy, to our local communities and our daily routines. At home, Scotland has made tremendous strides in expanding our growing ambitions in the digital and technology sector. Funding commitments from both the Scottish and UK Government have improved digital connectivity with more progress on the way and businesses are investing in digital training and new systems to improve productivity and adapt to fast-paced industry changes.
In Scotland, the number of tech businesses rose by an incredible 53% between 2010 and 2015, almost three times as fast as businesses across Scotland as a whole. The contribution of the tech sector should not be overlooked or underestimated. In fact, it is forecast to be the fastest growing sector in Scotland to 2024 by GVA, with estimates that it will grow almost twice as fast as the overall economy.
Edinburgh is well on its way to becoming a data giant in Europe, taking the lead in technologies of the future such as AI and blockchain. The computing and gaming sector is flourishing in Dundee, a sector that is becoming more and more successful in its own right year on year. Glasgow’s historic relationship with entrepreneurship is continuing to bring new exciting investment to the city. In recent years, the city has become a hub for space technology and it now makes more satellites than any other city outside the United States. Altogether, these three cities contribute £2.4bn combined, equating to three-fifths of Scotland's total tech turnover.
In order to ensure this continued success and rising growth, we need to make the most of Scotland's talent and maximise training opportunities for Scotland's workers. Currently, there are between 90,000 to 100,000 people employed in technology roles in Scotland. However, demand is outstripping supply when it comes to hiring talent in our companies. There are around 13,000 tech-related vacancies that are needing filled, and with only around 4,000 university graduates with computer science degrees and 1,000 apprentices coming into the system each year, it is clear that we are at risk of falling behind when it comes to digital skills. We need to make sure the industry has a steady stream of talent coming through to ensure continued growth. A deficit in digital skills will inevitably hold back economic growth unless solutions are found to plug the gap.
One sure way to increase the available pool of talent is to open up the tech sector. In Scotland, women currently make up 20% of tech professionals, compared to 17% across the UK. It is a significant achievement that Scotland leads the way when it comes to gender inclusion in this sector but more can be done to truly realise the sector’s full potential. Now is the time to harness all of Scotland’s talent as we galvanise behind this booming industry.”
Liz Cameron is chief executive of Scottish Chambers of Commerce.
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