Purvis to chair digital skills academy

Polly Purvis, chief executive of ScotlandIS

Polly Purvis, chief executive of digital technologies trade body ScotlandIS, has been appointed the first chair of CodeClan, Scotland’s first digital skills academy.

CodeClan opened in September with a mission to create a new generation of software developers that will help Scotland’s digital sector to drive the economy.

“CodeClan is off to a flying start and has an exciting future ahead of it,” said Purvis.

“I am honoured to have been asked to take on this role and I am looking forward to working alongside the rest of the board.

“With Scottish Government, Skills Development Scotland and industry working so closely together I really do believe we can create a new generation of digital workers that will help Scotland achieve its ambition to be a world class digital economy by 2020.”

CodeClan is industry led and Government backed and its curriculum has been designed to fit real market demand in Scotland.

CodeClan is working with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) to offer its graduates ‘Professional Development Awards’ in software development.

Harvey Wheaton, chief executive of CodeClan, said: “Polly has been part of the CodeClan team from the start and she was a natural choice as chair.

“She is well known for her commitment to increasing the number of people who pursue a career in our industry and her links to business will be invaluable as we develop CodeClan and its curriculum.

“In the fast paced digital sector you can’t stand still. New thinking, new processes and new practices will produce the dynamic people of tomorrow.”

CodeClan has an intake of students every 10 weeks, with its third intake due to start in mid February 2016. Applications are open until January 22, 2016.