A FORMER chief at multinational networking group Cisco is to lead a group responsible for advising on the investment and resources needed to help Scotland reach its full potential in the digital technologies sector.
Skills Development Scotland (SDS) has appointed Donald McLaughlin, formerly a director of Cisco Scotland, as chair of the Digital Technologies Skills Group.
Digital technology is one of Scotland’s fastest-growing sectors – is forecast to grow at double the rate of the overall economy by 2024 – and McLaughlin’s appointment, along with 30 years in the sector, comes at a time when demand for digital skills is unprecedented.
He has been a member of the group’s board for more than a year.
Claire Gillespie, SDS sector skills manager for digital technologies, said: “Donald McLaughlin is a passionate advocate for digital skills and is ideally placed to carry on the great work of the digital technology skills group as chair. Scotland has up to 12,800 tech job opportunities annually and through the work of the group and the digital skills funding provided by the Scottish Government, we are confident that Scotland’s potential in the digital technology economy will flourish in the years to come.”
As group chair, McLaughlin will draw on his experience of membership on several industry boards and his years at the forefront of the UK’s IT sector. A key priority for the group is to improve the visibility and recognition of digital skills by reinforcing their need, not just in the tech sector, but in the wider Scottish economy.
“Disrupt or be disrupted,” he said. “We are in the midst of what is being called the fourth industrial revolution. We need to make sure every level of society is included and equipped with the relevant digital skills to thrive in a world which is changing at an unprecedented rate. From school children learning to code, to older people having access to the internet, digital inclusion is important and vital to Scotland’s economy.”
He added: “Scotland has a long tradition for innovation. I believe Scotland can be and should be a world leader in digital tech but to achieve this we must ensure the relevant digital skills are here in Scotland.”
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