We are a small team of two based in The Data Lab and working with colleagues in the Data Driven Innovation Skills Gateway from universities and colleges across the Edinburgh and South East Scotland. Anna Scott is Project Delivery Manager and Katie Thomson is Programme Administrator. Here’s a bit more about us and our plans for the programme. 

Anna Scott (AS): I am the Project Delivery Manager for Data Skills for Work, so I am responsible for all aspects of the programme to ensure it meets the needs of learners, training providers and employers. I have worked for 20 years in communications, partnerships, and programme management roles – I love connecting industry and the public with the fantastic work that goes on in universities. My route into the world of data is perhaps an unusual one – I have an undergraduate degree in History of Art and English Literature from Glasgow University and a Masters in Arts & Cultural Management from Queen Margaret University, so I have a particular interest in how creative and cultural organisations can drive value from data. Data skills are in demand for so many jobs now, it’s great to be able to bring that wider perspective.

Katie Thomson (KT): I am the Programme Administrator and am responsible for our website and social media channels and providing advice and support around our funding and training programmes. I previously worked at the Clyde River Foundation where I carried out eco-education projects and river based fieldwork. I graduated from the University of Aberdeen with a first class MSci Biological Sciences, where my research focused on using models to explore cognition in a wild population of birds. This was the beginning of my journey into data! 

AS: Workplaces are changing and technology is now able to do a lot of the routine tasks that people used to – this is affecting jobs in every industry and it’s mainly the lower paid workers that are most at risk of being replaced or displaced by technology. We want to help people future proof their skills to make sure that automation provides an opportunity and not a threat to our local workforce, no matter their background or circumstances. As employers become more digital and data focussed, we need more people with the right skills to fill the jobs that being created, and that’s where we hope to make a difference. 

KT: Having learned data analytics during my masters degree I understand how useful data skills can be for so many aspects of work. I am very pleased to be working to support the Data Skills for Work programme to help everyone on their data journey. Our programme isn’t about making everyone a data scientist or everyone taking a university or college course but linking people with training they can do flexibly while working and that builds on their existing skills and experience. 

AS: This past year has been about research and development of the programme, so I am excited to move into our delivery phase so that we can start connecting with the learners and employers who are going to most benefit from our programme. For example, our Data Skills Credits Scheme will provide up to £500 to help people access data related training courses. We will also be delivering some free training for SME and third sector leaders to help them think through the skills they need to deliver value for their data and build a more data literate team. 

KT: I am very excited to launch our portal which will help signpost data skills courses and help remove some of the barriers for people starting their data journey – there is a massive variety of training courses available and it can be overwhelming. I am looking forward to being able to guide people in their learning journeys and provide them with options they may not have considered before. Lockdown has meant so many more online learning opportunities are available, allowing people to learn a new skill from home! 

AS: The Data Lab were really great in supporting us all to move very quickly to a working from home model. We use Slack, Teams and Zoom to keep in touch and even do random virtual chats so that we don’t miss too much of the ‘water cooler’ moments – although I really miss getting together for lunch and the general buzz of the office. Lockdown has highlighted the fundamental need for a programme like ours – everyone now relies so much on digital tools for school, work and home, highlighting that digital literacy is more about inclusion than ever. 

KT: I joined the project during lockdown and was really impressed with how supportive and smooth the process was. I definitely miss meeting in person for collaborating but regular catch ups over Teams and Zoom help to keep energy and motivation high. As we all try to understand Covid statistics, the importance of data literacy has been highlighted.  

AS: We are a family of cooks and bakers so there is always something delicious on the go in our kitchen. In normal times I love an outing to the theatre or to wander around an art gallery at the weekend so I’ll be really happy when I can do that again freely. I live in East Lothian by the sea so I am spoiled for choice for woodland walks, ruined castles and lovely beaches. 

KT: I enjoy being outside – walking my rescue dog and volunteering with The Green Team supporting young people to carry our conservation work. I am lucky to live in some lovely countryside, with great walks.  

We are here to help you on your data journey whether that is as a Data Citizen, Data Worker or Data Professional. Thanks for reading and we look forward to sharing more exciting developments with you soon!