The Data Skills for Work programme aims to help people across Edinburgh, Lothian, Fife and the Scottish Borders. It raises awareness of the skills needed to take advantage of data-driven innovation to help prepare for the changing world of work. The ambition is to enhance the local labour market with a range of data skills – including increasing opportunities for workers in jobs that are being changed by automation plus women returners, people with disabilities and ethnic minorities. 

The programme is for people and businesses seeking training in key data skills. It signposts them to relevant courses provided by local colleges, universities and other online and face-to-face training and education providers. 

Data Skills Portal

This online portal outlines training options against a data skills framework, allowing users to identify the right training for them. It includes links to relevant courses and training options, many offering fully funded places to eligible learners through a Data Skills Credits scheme.  

Data Skills Credits

This scheme provides small training grants to further and higher education institutions and private training providers (up to £500 per learner) to develop the necessary data skills to gain meaningful employment and progression as part of the data-driven economy. 

Data Adoption

Leadership training and ongoing support from The Data Lab for the adoption of Data-Driven Innovation and planning for a data-literate workforce. 

Some of the training is free for those meeting eligibility criteria, some will cost. 

This is for people living, working or trading in Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife or the Scottish Borders. 

It is for: 

• People looking for opportunities to up-skill or retrain 
• Employers planning to grow internal data capability 
• Training providers interested in offering data skills courses 

Please submit an enquiry and an adviser will be in touch to discuss your needs.