SDS is carrying out this research in a bid to help companies in Scotland improve their recruitment practices so that they’re more inclusive of and for diverse teams.

According to the agency, the lack of diversity within digital workforces is thereby contributing to the ongoing digital skills gap. While this can hamper the growth of variously sized businesses across the economy, it’s perhaps most stark for small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

To gain further insight — and to better support businesses — SDS are calling on business owners and Human Resources (HR) departments to complete their new short survey, which can be found here. The closing date for submissions is 29 September.

SDS asserts that any information provided will be solely used for research purposes, and won’t be published.

Speaking on diversity, inclusion, and the pervasive skills gap, Phil Ford, head of digital economy and financial services at SDS, said: “The demand for digital skills has never been higher, and smaller companies have to compete with large corporations and multinational for that limited talent pool.

“We know that a focus on inclusion and diversity is crucial if firms want to attract, recruit and retain good people, and we want to help SMEs in particular with that effort.

“This survey will give us the essential data to make sure we create the right support and resources to improve inclusivity in the wider digital economy.”

Recommended reading

• Diverse Talent Pool Being Bypassed by Scottish Tech Firms, SDS Says
• SDS Starts New Highlands Digital Skills Initiative
• Scotland’s Technology Sector Contributes £4.9bn to the Economy

Within recent years, companies across Scotland, the UK, and across the globe have been paying greater attention to diversity and inclusion efforts, with many of those efforts beginning with enhanced recruitment practices.

However, recent statistics show that much like many other industries and geographies, the Scottish tech sector itself still has a ways to go to resolve the key diversity and inclusion challenges within it.

For instance, when it comes to gender alone, women make up just 23% of those in digital technologies roles, according to ScotlandIS, the membership organisation for Scotland’s digital technology industry. In addition to gender, there are other and intersecting forms of diversity, including race, religion, sexual orientation, age, neurodiversity, and disability, among others.

According to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development — the association for HR management professionals — the business benefits of instilling a diverse and inclusive workforce and place include increased innovation, creativity, productivity, reputation, and engagement.

Further, it can aid companies with better attracting and retaining a wider pool of talented candidates and employees — something which can particularly help alleviate the digital skills gap faced in Scotland and beyond.