Graduates of CodeClan, the digital skills academy, are boosting Scotland’s growing financial technology sector by filling roles with both traditional banking and younger disruptive organisations.
In recent months, 20 CodeClan graduates have gone on to join firms that include Prudential, Wallet Services, Money Dashboard, Float and FreeAgent.
CodeClan’s mission is to generate a steady stream of digital talent that will allow Scotland’s vibrant tech sector to flourish and drive the economy. The skills of CodeClan graduates are in demand across a range of sectors, including within the financial services sector.
Adam Bannon, acting chief executive, said: “Technology has an impact upon almost every business sector and CodeClan is working with employers to ensure that we provide graduates with opportunities across a variety of industries.
“A qualification in tech opens the door to a range of opportunities. The FinTech sector is rapidly growing and increasing in importance across Scotland and it is vital we can provide people with the right skills to help the industry thrive and fulfil its potential.”
Matthew Jeorrett joined Wallet Services as a developer evangelist after completing CodeClan’s 16-week professional software development course. Wallet Services simplifies blockchain technology and implements best practice for secure and robust transactions.
He said: “The course was very relevant and we had the chance to meet with many companies. I was interested in what Wallet Services was doing and working in areas like Blockchain.
“They invited me in for a meeting and after I was offered the job I was doing hands-on coding straight away and working on front-end products. I’m also now getting into cryptography. Being on the course was brilliant and it was everything I expected it to be.”
Scotland aiming to be global leader in financial technology
CodeClan is a key element in the Government’s ‘Digital Strategy for Scotland’, which aims to create the conditions in which our digital technologies industries can thrive. The skills academy is also working with the newly established industry body, FinTech Scotland, whose goal is to make Scotland a global leader in financial technology innovation and development.
Ed Molyneux, chief executive and co-founder of cloud accounting software company FreeAgent, said: “The future of Scotland’s tech sector depends on new talent being unearthed and allowed to flourish. By partnering with CodeClan, we’ve been delighted to help a new wave of Scottish graduates get nurtured and trained for successful careers in the tech industry.”
Currently, around 93% of CodeClan graduates land their first job in Scotland’s tech sector within six months and over 70% secure a job within 3 months of finishing the intensive course.
Colin Hewitt, chief executive and cofounder of Float, financial software for businesses that helps budget and forecast cash flow said: “We’re delighted to see the CodeClan model really working, by identifying potential and training up quality software engineers. It’s been a great success story, and I think they’ve now proved that it can really work for both the students and companies they are serving.”
The digital technologies sector is one of the nation’s economic success stories, generating over £5bn in GVA for Scotland every year. In terms of employment, the financial services sector is the second largest employer of digital technology workers in the country.
