Stellar Omada, the Edinburgh-headquartered technology services firm, has launched a digital education programme aimed at securing jobs for people with little or no experience in tech.

Following a pilot earlier this year, where the seven candidates went on to gain full-time employment, Stellar Elevate commences this month with up to twelve people on a seven-week software testing course that will help prepare them for a career in tech.

“It’s our ambition to have as many as one thousand people come through this programme over the next five years to help address the digital skills gap,” said Colin Frame, founder and managing director of Stellar Omada.

“We’re starting off with software testing because that is our bread and butter at Stellar, but we see Stellar Elevate evolving over time to cover a host of other tech disciplines.”

Frame explained that in the first instance, the programme’s candidates will sit an exam at the end of the course which will provide them with an International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB) certificate, helping to put them in a strong position to gain a job in the sector.

“As one of Scotland’s fastest-growing technology companies, we see first hand the magnitude of the digital skills gap, how it can hold back the pace of growth, and ultimately top-line economic growth in Scotland,” he added.

“We saw CodeClan fold last year, so we lost the main provider of digital skills provision in this country and that’s a concern when you’re leading a tech business like ours.”

Stellar Omada is also engaged with industry around demand for corporate sponsorship that would enable companies to upskill their existing teams or source new talent.

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Stellar Omada, which specialises in business and technology transformation and programme delivery, marked its 5th anniversary last year and secured a £4.5 million investment from BGF in September. Stellar works closely with clients in the banking, pensions, and investment management sectors.

Stellar also strengthened its commercial relationship this year with Heart of Midlothian FC, including the recently announced front-of-shirt sponsorship—the largest commercial deal in the club’s history—and ongoing support to Heart of Midlothian’s Innovation Centre and the delivery of digital skills to young people.