SCOTLAND’S first accredited digital skills academy has announced its expansion as it celebrates its first birthday.

CodeClan launched its intensive training course in Edinburgh last year and will now set up a second centre in Glasgow.

The news came yesterday as it revealed 90 per cent of graduates secured roles within the digital industry in six months of finishing their 16-week course.

These include former accountants, north sea workers, and marketing professionals who have retrained for posts within the country’s burgeoning tech sector.

Harvey Wheaton, chief executive of CodeClan, says the Glasgow centre is in response to demand and predicts the job success rate will remain as high as the number of graduates grows.

He told The National: “I have no reason why not. But what we want to do is bring that employment forward and have 90 per cent in work within less than six months. At the moment, we can say around half have found jobs within six weeks.

“People have given up jobs and paid money for this course. Employment is really important to them.”

Many graduates, who learn 20 to a class, have gone on to work with Scottish tech start-ups including MakeitSocial, GeckoLabs and Intelligentpos, as well as major international companies such as Adobe and Deloitte Digital.

Meanwhile, the academy has also launched a number of shorter part-time courses aimed at those seeking to develop existing skills.

Wheaton said: “We’re extremely proud of the progress we’ve made in our first year. We have had great support from companies who see us as playing a critical role in helping create a sustainable future for Scotland’s digital economy.

“With all cohorts to the end of the year full, we are already getting repeat hires from several companies in Scotland. The fact that our cohorts are oversubscribed and students are referring friends and former colleagues is clear evidence that this style of academy is not only needed but is a practical and realistic route for anybody looking to work in the digital sector.”

Davide de Lerma worked as a geophysicist in the oil and gas sector before the industry’s downturn prompted him to look to CodeClan for retraining. He now works as a technical consultant for Edge Testing in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire.

Nadia McKay, the company’s testing services director, called CodeClan “a fantastic opportunity to bring people into the industry”, with the job-ready result allowing them to “fast track” graduates into their operation.

Alison McLaughlin, of Sopra Steria, which has also taken on CodeClan graduates, said: “Given the increasing digital skills gap, the tech sector needs to consider alternative recruitment approaches.

“CodeClan’s role in fast-tracking capable individuals into our industry is vital and the calibre of the staff they produce is very high.”

Marking the anniversary at the company’s Edinburgh offices yesterday, Education Secretary John Swinney said: “More than 82,000 people in Scotland work in digital and ICT occupations. That number is going to rise, with businesses across the economy looking for more women and men with the necessary digital skills and qualifications.

“I would like to congratulate Harvey and his team at CodeClan on their first anniversary, and especially all of the students who have graduated during that time.”