Themes

Each skill / competency in the framework has been categorised according to its broad theme within the data ecosystem

 
 

Core skills

For those looking to develop their awareness and understanding of data and how it’s used – which technical skills can build on.

Core skills

Analysis skills

For those involved with interpreting and manipulating data and statistics.

analysis skills
 

Data Management skills

For those involved in managing data, including legal requirements, ethics and rights.

MANAGEMENT SKILLS

Data Leadership skills

For those with a leadership role – helping them to improve their understanding of data, strategise and make the most of data within their organisation.

leadership skills
 

Data Engineering skills

For those involved with the design, development and maintenance of data systems.

ENGINEERING SKILLS

Creative and Business skills

For Data Professionals looking to build on their existing technical knowledge in areas such as communications, service design, planning and delivery.

business skills
 

Learning

The data skills landscape can be confusing, particularly for organisations or individuals who are fairly new to data. We are here to help.

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Learner Portal

Tools and resources to help you understand the data opportunity and help you to start building your skills

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Our programmes aim to develop data literacy, or the ability to derive meaningful information from data

This skill-set is not the same as digital literacy, although in practice working with data often requires digital skills such as using analysis software or programming, and improving data literacy is also likely to improve digital literacy.

Because data is so crucial for organisational success, data literacy, and associated skills such as critical thinking, adaptability, and self-management, are increasingly in demand for all employees.

 

Search

Relevant short courses mapped to our skills framework to help identify the right training for you.

Search

Join

The Data Lab Community - a welcoming and supportive space to connect with others on the same path as you.

Join
 

Which data persona do you identify with?

 
 

Employer Portal

Tools and resources to help employers understand how to drive value from data within your organisation, and help you develop or source the right mix of skills to deliver

 
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Our programmes aim to develop data literacy, or the ability to derive meaningful information from data

This skill-set is not the same as digital literacy, although in practice working with data often requires digital skills such as using analysis software or programming, and improving data literacy is also likely to improve digital literacy.

Because data is so crucial for organisational success, data literacy, and associated skills such as critical thinking, adaptability, and self-management, are increasingly in demand for all employees.

 
illustration of three happy people

People Power Data

A course for leaders and managers.

People are the power that fuels your data ambitions

People have the power to make it happen or stop it in its tracks

Search

Relevant short courses mapped to our skills framework to identify the right training for employees.

SEARCH

Join

The Data Lab Community - a welcoming and supportive space to connect with others on the same path as you.

Join

Explore

Our framework for data skills that will help educators and training providers develop learning resources that support upskilling.

Explore

Employer case study

 
Featured
Data Skills Credits Case Study - Auticon
Case Study
Employer, Data Worker, Case Study
Data Skills Credits Case Study - Auticon
Case Study
Employer, Data Worker, Case Study

Hear from Emma Walker at auticon, who received funding to upskill four employees through our Data Skills Credits for Employers fund.

Read More →
Case Study
Employer, Data Worker, Case Study

Partner Portal

We work with training and education providers and others to address data skills gaps and help organisations and individuals find the right training for them

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Our programmes aim to develop data literacy, or the ability to derive meaningful information from data

This skill-set is not the same as digital literacy, although in practice working with data often requires digital skills such as using analysis software or programming, and improving data literacy is also likely to improve digital literacy.

Because data is so crucial for organisational success, data literacy, and associated skills such as critical thinking, adaptability, and self-management, are increasingly in demand for all employees.

 

List

Your data short courses in our course catalogue to help individuals and employers find the right data skills training.

LIST your course

Explore

Our framework for data skills that will help educators and training providers develop learning resources that support upskilling.

Explore
 

Apply

Check eligibility and apply for Data Skills Credits - funding to deliver data literacy short courses.

Apply

Join

The Data Lab Community - a welcoming and supportive space to connect with others developing data literacy.

Join
 

Power Ups

We are looking for partners to create micro training courses for our learners.

 

Who we work with

 

Data Skills for Edinburgh
& South East

Funding to help workers adapt to the demands of increasingly digitalised, automated and data-driven workplaces.

Applications are currently closed.

Colleges, universities and other training providers are invited to apply for up to £10,000 of funding from the Data Skills Credits small grants scheme to help deliver digital and data courses either in-person or online to learners in Edinburgh, Lothian, Fife & Scottish Borders.

To help improve equality and diversity in the tech sector, any resulting courses will be available free of charge for learners who earn less than £24,000 per year, are not already in training and belong to one of the following groups:

  • Women

  • People with a disability

  • People from a minority ethnic background

  • Neurodivergent individuals

 

What will we fund?

For a course to be eligible for funding it must meet the following selection criteria (expand for more information): 

  • The course must recruit participants who are living or working in Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian, West Lothian, Fife & Scottish Borders Council areas and who meet the criteria above. The course(s) can be open to others, but the cost of delivery to those learners should be covered from other sources. We are particularly interested in proposals that align with priority industry sectors for the Region, including: Healthcare, Artificial Intelligence, Agritech, Financial Services, Food & Drink, Transport, Culture, Housing, and Green Skills.

  • Providers can be colleges, universities or any other training organisation. We welcome partnership proposals, particularly from providers working with third sector organisations who can provide wrap around and follow on support for learners in our target groups; the lead partner must be a training provider.

    Providers must recruit a minimum number of learners onto each course based on the total amount of funding awarded up to a maximum of £500 per learner. Training programmes should be aligned with the criteria below.

  • The course can be delivered in person, fully online, or as blended learning. Timing should be flexible and suitable for people who are in work or are returning to work.

  • The course must introduce students to, or equip learners with, theoretical and practical skills for the application/understanding of data skills. The course must use data and technology to help people develop new skills. We are looking for providers who can offer training in key data skills and capabilities relevant to priority sectors including:

    Data literacy

    Data ethics and governance

    Data analytics

    Data visualisation

    Statistical software

    Coding

    AI and machine learning skills

    Data engineering

    Data systems and databases.

    Through our work and research with employers, we have created a Data Skills Framework, which identifies the following data skills gaps:

    Learning at Data Citizen level should introduce individuals to the fundamentals of data science, its key concepts and equip them with an ability to carry out basic tasks. For example, effective Data Management, Data Ethics, Data Protection.

    At Data Worker level, learners should be able to apply statistics, programming and analysis skills to datasets from their organisation to answer questions. There is potential for training contextualised with in specific sectors, looking at data analytics and management/governance in the context of, for instance, retail, marketing, tourism, financial services, or the third sector.

    At Data Professional level, employers have identified a need for communication skills for technical roles, as well as AI & Machine Learning and Data Engineering skills.

 

Funding process

1. Application - Online application filled in by provider.

2. Review - Applications are reviewed against criteria. If criteria met, application is approved and agreement issued.

3. Promotion - Course is promoted through provider networks, learners register for free.

4. Delivery - Provider delivers training and shares learner progress with The Data Lab (TDL).

5. Payment - TDL pays funding directly to training provider on completion of the course (T&Cs apply).

6. Evaluation - Monitoring/evaluation form completed by provider..

 

Funding

The fund will be a training grant award to successful applicants. The maximum grant is £10,000 per course for a minimum of 20 learners and the minimum is £5,000 for a minimum of 10 learners (training must be free at the point of access to those learners). The grant will be administered by The Data Lab (TDL) through The University of Edinburgh. Courses can be delivered multiple times (and therefore applicants can apply to deliver more than one course), but all courses must be completed by 31 March 2024.

 

Apply now

Data Skills for Work Training Register

If you can offer data skills training to learners in the Edinburgh & South East Scotland City Region, or are interested in doing so, and would like to be included on the Data Skills for Work training register, we would like to hear from you.

We are looking for providers who can offer training in key data skills and capabilities mapped to the themes and skills and competencies of our skills framework:

 

  • Data literacy

  • Data ethics and governance

  • Data analytics

  • Data visualisation

  • Statistical software

  • Coding

  • AI and machine learning skills

  • Data engineering

  • Data systems and databases

  • And more …

 
 

To tell us about the training you offer and see how you can get involved, please contact us.

Further information

Training must be suited for people who are in work or returning to the workforce, and can be targeted at Data Citizens, Data Workers, and Data Professionals 

Benefits 

  • Course listing on the Data Skills for Work website and Skills Portal and promoted to individuals and businesses looking for opportunities to upskill and reskill; 

  • Apply Data Skills Credits as discounts for eligible learners to increase participation and support equality and diversity; 

  • Help improve data literacy in the City Region and prepare workforce for changing jobs market by future proofing skills. 

Eligibility 

  • Courses must be accessible to people living and working in Edinburgh & South East Scotland City Region;  

  • Training must be suited for people who are in work or returning to the workforce, and can be targeted at Data Citizens, Data Workers, and Data Professionals.

 

The digital technology revolution has put data at the core of many things, from personal privacy and public health, to income generation and tackling climate change. This means that upskilling (development of skills through continuous learning and training) and reskilling (learning a new vocation or skillset) are more important than ever. 

Data Skills for Work supports workers in adapting to the demands of increasingly digitalised, automated, and data-driven workplaces.