Financial services firm Embark Group has launched the brand new Dundee Tech School, which intends to create a pipeline of high-value fintech and technology roles and inject fresh investment in the Dundee economy.

The facility is the latest part of a wider initiative, started in 2020, which aims to create 150 new jobs in Dundee.

The Dundee Tech School is situated within Embark’s West Marketgait office and has initially recruited 12 graduates and career changers into junior software developer roles.

Recruitment to the specialist positions is supported by an intensive eight-week training and development programme, in association with leading tech training organisation QA and Embark fintech specialists.

The Tech School will be led by engineering community lead, Rose Ulldemolins, who brings first-rate expertise and experience; having been on an almost identical career trajectory as the participants. Rose will work alongside the Embark Engineering Team to design, develop, and implement the internal training programme.

The school, which is also being supported by Scottish Enterprise, aims to play a leading role in solving the acute skills and recruitment challenge for technology business nationwide.

With its people-first approach, this initiative aims to frontload essential learning, empowering students to develop their confidence, and commercial productivity within six months.

Seeing as one in ten new job openings in the UK are now technology related, Embark’s tech school aims to help fill the gap in training for graduates and new starters interested in a career in technology in Dundee.

The programme provides participants with a permanent role and a salary from the very start of their employment. It is designed to plug participants into the Embark business in Dundee for the long term, rapidly providing them with the skills necessary to excel in a career in technology.

Embark became a part of Lloyds Banking Group in 2022, and founding The Dundee Tech school is part of the company’s Helping Britain Prosper corporate purpose.

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“Dundee is world renowned as a centre of excellence for digital skills and innovation, so it makes perfect sense for us to nurture future talent right here in the city,” Jackie Leiper, CEO of Embark Group, said.

“I’m really excited about launching Embark’s first school dedicated to bringing more young people into fintech roles, which will increase the digital skills base in the local economy. For companies like ours to grow and provide customers with first class digital services it’s essential we have a pipeline of talented and skilled software developers, so I’m looking forward to inducting our first intake of students in a few weeks’ time.”

Mark Newlands, Interim Director of Global Investment at Scottish Enterprise, added: “We’re very happy to continue our long-standing support for Embark with the establishment of its Dundee Tech School.

“The facility will help ensure future employees have the right skills for the role, by providing them with the latest expertise and knowledge to support Scotland’s dynamic and growing fintech sector. This project is also an example of partnership at its best, with business and the public sector working together to support high value employment in the local area.”