Software Skills Academy To Open

Plans to create a dedicated software skills academy in Scotland have been revealed.

CodeClan, a coding school for web and mobile software development, aims to produce waves of graduates ready for work every 10 weeks when it opens in September.

The joint government and industry initiative is based on similar academies in London, Berlin and New York.

From its base in Edinburgh, the 16-week course is working with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) to offer its graduates professional development awards in software development.

Bosses said the academy is looking for people who are natural problem solvers, with students required to hit the ground running.

Although a technology background is not needed, a rigorous selection process, including a pre-qualification course, will help determine aptitude.

Rebecca Heaney from CodeClan said: Digital is part of every day life and CodeClan will fast track access into shaping that world. A CodeClan qualification will create countless career paths and give students skills they can take anywhere.''

CodeClan needs people who share our passion for software and who want to learn the craft of coding so they can build and design digital products for the real world. Applicants don't need any prior experience to apply to CodeClan but we do demand an intense desire to learn.''

Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: I greatly welcome today's launch of CodeClan, the industry-led digital skills academy. CodeClan will provide new opportunities for people from many walks of life to meet pressing skills shortages in this growing and vibrant digital sector.

The Scottish Government is very pleased to support this initiative as part of our commitment to make Scotland a world class digital economy by 2020.''