Skills Development Scotland (SDS) is on the lookout for a new chair for its Digital Economy Skills Group (DESG).

DESG is a collective of industry and public sector experts which meets regularly to shape the delivery of national activity to help plug the country’s digital skills gap.

Ross Tuffee recently stepped down after three years in the role, commenting: “It’s been a real pleasure and privilege working with SDS and my fellow DESG colleagues to help influence and drive the digital skills agenda in Scotland.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for someone to make a lasting and impactful difference to Scotland’s wider economy and not just the tech sector.”

SDS say they are keen to appoint a Chair from outside the tech industry, as digital skills are now so important and prevalent across the entire Scottish economy.

“We are keen to get applicants from a wide range of backgrounds, as having different experiences and points of view is a key strength of the DESG,” Phil Ford, head of digital economy and financial services for SDS said.

“We would welcome applications from outside the technology sector, recognising that the digital economy now encompasses all of Scotland’s businesses. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Ross for his commitment and hard work over the last three years. He has helped us and the DESG deliver so much in his time as Chair.”

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DESG was founded in 2014 to help the skills needed to bolster Scotland’s digital economy employers.

Recently, DESG has worked with SDS to publish the first Digital Economy Skills Action Plan (DESAP), highlighting the pressures on Scotland’s digital skills ecosystem.

A major responsibility of the chair will be to ensure that SDS and DESG work together to implement all of the priorities outlines in DESAP.

The report provides a framework to address the challenges faced in the sector surrounding skills gaps.

Priority action areas proposed include supporting a future skills pipeline of digital economy talent as well as improving our understanding of future skills needs.

DESAP also includes priorities for small businesses by their increasing digital leadership and maturity skills, while also recognising the importance in fostering a fairer, more diverse and inclusive digital economy.

Finally, upskilling and reskilling are top priorities SDS is looking into contributing to.

The chair would be an ambassador for DESAP as well as Scotland’s overall digital skills economy.

More information about the role can be found here.