February 2022

Read more here – DDI

For people

The Data Skills Gateway brings together the City Region’s industry, universities, colleges, schools and others to provide routes into data or digital careers. It covers basic and key skills in schools through to advanced postgraduate training and research.

We all need data skills

The Data Skills Gateway has been set up so that everyone can benefit from the opportunities of the new economy. It creates the potential for everyone to improve their data and digital skills. That includes girls in school who might be put off by the frequently male-dominated image of the technology sector, people returning to the workforce after a break, or anyone who combines work with caring responsibilities. It also includes people whose roles are changing and who may now face redundancy.

It covers teaching and skills at all stages, from early years to adult learning. It includes people of all backgrounds and social groups, people with disabilities and other challenges, and people with all levels of education. The Skills Gateway will also help develop the data science curriculum and continuing professional development (CPD) for employability and learning professionals, plus skills development for people who are excluded or disadvantaged groups, helping to improve inclusion within the industry.

Technologies like artificial intelligence and robotics are increasing demand for highly-skilled workers, but every type of work is affected. It is estimated that 90% of jobs already require digital skills.

The good news is, you don’t have to be a data scientist, or learn computer coding, or master advanced mathematics. But you do need at least a basic level of data and digital skills for many jobs, and to make the best use of products and services. In other words, we all need to be more data savvy.

The Data Skills Gateway has four strands:

Read the case studies to find out more.

The Data Skills Gateway was a finalist at the 2021 Digital Leaders 100 awards.

The Skills Gateway made it into the final three for Digital Skills Initiative of the Year, out of hundreds of entries from across the UK. With over 700 nominations, judges recognised the Skills Gateway‘s innovative and cross-sector approach to improving data skills as a key component of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal’s skills and employability programme.