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:
- Data Education in Schools
- Data Education in Colleges
- Data Education in Universities
- Data Skills for Work
Read the case studies to find out more.
The Data Skills Gateway has consistently been recognised for its innovative contributions to data education. Notably, it was a finalist at the 2024, 2022, and 2021 Digital Leaders 100 awards.
In addition, 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 highlighted the Skills Gateway's innovative and cross-sector approach to enhancing data skills, serving as a key component of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal’s skills and employability program.
In 2023, Data Education in Schools received the British Data Award for Data for Good Education Initiative of the Year for their BSL project, further demonstrating their commitment to impactful educational initiatives.
Become a Data Skills Gateway Advisory Board member
The Data Skills Gateway Advisory Board was established to assist with planning, implementing, reviewing and refining the Data Skills Gateway activity, to ensure that it delivers change and inclusive growth ambitions for the Edinburgh and South East Scotland city region.
Data literacy is the set of skills that people need in order to ask questions, collect, analyse, interpret and communicate about data. It is important because as it gets easier for computers to collect large amounts of data, it is increasingly used to make decisions in our everyday lives.
Data skills are becoming increasingly important in all our lives and Scotland’s economy. We caught up with May Flett, Data Education in Colleges Lead, and Jon Buglass, Vice Principal of Innovation, Planning and Performance at Edinburgh College, to discuss how they plan to equip people with the relevant skills.
The focus of this initiative is to design and deliver university-level cutting-edge courses that incorporate the data skills increasingly valued by organisations and individuals. It is designed to provide data skills, together with practical experience, for both data professionals and data workers.
This project aims to help those already in work, or returning to work, to develop the skills to participate in a data-driven economy. We want those in occupations like manufacturing, administration, and sales – and those facing barriers to training and employment – to gain vital skills.
