According to the recently published Digital Economy Skills Action Plan from Skills Development Scotland, digital occupations are amongst the fastest growing in Scotland, with demand for digital skills expected to continue rising into the next decade.

Importantly, digital skills are no longer the sole preserve of the technology sector. Digital talent is now essential for all of the country’s key industries on which our economy relies. In particular, the application of data science and analytics is helping Scotland’s businesses and organisations to improve decision-making, enhance forecasting accuracy and identify key opportunities for growth.

Despite their clear benefits, the same report from Skills Development Scotland crucially highlights that only 1 in 5 Scottish businesses feel fully equipped with digital technology skills. So, what can be done to harness the nation’s strengths in digital technology and enhance its data capabilities?

At Heriot-Watt University, we specialise in business, science, technology, engineering and design – subjects that make a real impact on the world and society. In particular, we have a strong reputation for digital-related degrees and offer Graduate Apprenticeships in Data Science and Software Development for Business.

GAs allow students to study for a degree-level qualification while working for a company. They combine the best of both worlds – students can gain academic knowledge as well as real-world experience, giving them the skills that they need to help grow Scotland’s economy.

For employers, GAs help to plug critical skills gaps, both for individual businesses and for the wider economy. They are an ideal way to get young people into the workplace – meeting the promises made as part of the Scottish Government’s Young Person’s Guarantee – and to increase diversity within companies and the national workforce.

Best of all they’re fully funded, making them an incredibly cost-effective way to recruit new talent and upskill or reskill existing employees.

Recommended reading

• Energy Transition Engineering MSC Launched at Heriot-Watt Uni
• Scotland’s AI Strategy: A Bold Vision to Unlock the Nation’s Data Potential
• Scots Tech Employers Asked to Shape Future of Digital Apprenticeships

Graduate apprentice Connor Cook found his position on Heriot-Watt’s Data Science programme whilst working as a restaurant manager. He was able to gain valuable first-hand workplace experience as a data analyst in the Strategic Planning, Performance & Projects team at Heriot-Watt alongside his studies and whilst earning enough to support his family.

With aspirations to become a full-time data analyst, he believes that the skills developed during his Graduate Apprenticeship will lay the foundations for a long and fulfilling career in data science.

As Edinburgh aims to become the ‘data capital’ of Europe and a centre of excellence in artificial intelligence and data science, it’s clear that the world of big data has enormous potential not just for Connor but for Scotland’s entire workforce. That’s why Heriot-Watt University is at the forefront of developing and delivering agile courses that can react to new and emerging growth sectors.

Interested in discovering more about how our Graduate Apprenticeships are unlocking potential for individuals and employers? Find out more today!