Up to £10,000 is now available for tech training providers and Further and Higher education institutions to offer new data skills courses.

Funding to help workers adapt to the demands of increasingly digitalised, automated and data-driven workplaces is being extended to the Tay Cities region after upskilling more than 500 learners in Edinburgh. Funded by the Scottish Government, this new partnership between The Data Lab and the Tay Cities Digital Skills Project, aims to address the digital skills gap, support diversity and prepare participants for the changing world of work through its small grants scheme.

Since November 2020, the Data Lab’s, Data Skills for Work Programme has supported delivery of training in coding, data analytics, data visualisation and more to over 500 learners. Successful providers have included tech innovators; CodeClan, Code Division, the Institute of Data and Marketing, the University of Dundee, and Jumping Rivers.

Colleges, universities and other training providers in Dundee, Angus, North East Fife and Perth & Kinross are invited to apply for up to £10,000 of funding to deliver courses, for up to 20 participants.

As the data courses aim to help improve the equality and diversity in the tech sector, the 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

Training providers can apply online here for a share of the funding. Applications close at 5pm on Friday 28 April.

For more information about the call, see our funding section.

Anna Ashton Scott, Programme Manager for Professional Development at The Data Lab, said:

“We are calling on providers who can offer training in crucial data skills and capabilities, including data analytics, data ethics and governance, coding, Artificial Intelligence, machine learning skills and data engineering.  

“We are also particularly interested in proposals that align with priority industry sectors for the region, which include engineering, manufacturing, tourism, food and drink.”

Gordon Mole, Head of Business and Employability, Fife Council who are the lead for the Tay Cities Digital Skills Project added:

“Data skills are essential for everyone’s job now. This proposal gives training providers in the Tay Cities region the opportunity to deliver new skills to residents, helping them thrive and prosper as we look to the future of work.”

Alison Muckersie, Programme Director for Data-Driven Innovation Skills Gateway at the University of Edinburgh said:

“We are delighted to be extending our successful programme to work alongside the Tay Cities team. By sharing the learnings across city region deal partnerships, we ensure the efficient and effective use of resources and help accelerate the implementation of successful programmes tested at a regional level but with the potential for national impact.”