Event round-up
28 Mar 2025
by Stephanie Barr, Matt Robinson

Event round-up: Driving tech sector growth and advancing the digital economy in…Scotland

Following on from the launch of techUK’s Local Digital Index in December 2024, techUK hosted its first Scottish roundtable of the year in Glasgow, focused on driving tech sector growth and advancing the digital economy.

Hosted by techUK member Leidos, the roundtable brought together representatives from the private and public sector – including Minister for Business, Richard Lochhead MSP, and techUK President, Sheila Flavell – to discuss Scotland’s strengths, opportunities and challenges.

According to data from The Data City platform, the Scottish digital economy employs approximately 18,400 people, with a GVA of nearly £1.4bn. It shows that when compared to Wales and Greater Manchester, Scotland scored highest in terms of total GVA and estimated growth per year*.

The Glasgow case study that is featured in the Local Digital Index further shows the thriving tech sector in Scotland. However, there remain obstacles to growth, many of which were discussed this week.

*Data accurate as of 11/03/25

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Key takeaways:

AI

  • AI has the potential to increase business productivity and improve efficiencies, whilst also having a role to play in public service reform.
  • There is still a fear factor around AI, and both government and industry need to work together to educate people and leverage the opportunities from it.
  • Highlighting successful use cases within the public and private sector - for example in areas such as health and education - is key to this, as it highlighting the benefits of tech adoption to non-tech SMEs.
  • AI can be an expensive tool to implement for a business. We need to ensure SMEs are supported to adopt and deploy it, if they believe it will be of benefit to them.
  • Despite recent conversations around an AI Growth Zone in Scotland, there are concerns that there is a lack of clarity over the next steps in the process and a desire to ensure the infrastructure is in place to fully reap the benefits of an AIGZ.
  • The Scottish Government is currently refreshing its AI Strategy. techUK will be hoping to have further input on this including at our next roundtable.

Investment and Exports

  • There’s a great deal of work being done to support start-ups - the same support and emphasis is needed for scale-ups. This isn’t just a Scotland issue but also relevant to the wider UK.
  • Currently, less than 2% of VC funding goes to female-founders. More needs to be done to improve this and support female entrepreneurs.
  • There are also challenges in relation to women-led businesses exporting. Last month, the Scottish Government published its Gender Export Gap in Scotland report, which looks at what is holding women back.

Skills

  • There are some fantastic examples of partnerships between universities and colleges and industry but improved collaboration between the public and private sector will help to ensure that we deliver the skills that industry needs.
  • Time and investment is needed to support people into tech roles who have not come through mainstream education routes, as they often make some of the best technologists. These routes need to be set up to provide long term certainty and not just quick fixes.
  • Diversity, for example in terms of background and neurodiversity, adds great value to teams, businesses and technology development.
  • The importance of transferable skills should not be overlooked and should be considered favourably by employees and employers when people are trying to change careers.
  • The space sector was flagged as one sector which people often overlook when thinking about changing career, as they do not think they have the right skills. However, those transferable skills are often desired by the space - and wider tech - sector.
  • We need to look at how we can encourage more apprenticeships within start-ups and scale-ups and perhaps consider changes that have been made in other parts of the UK i.e. changes to the Apprenticeship levy (now the Growth and Skills Levy) transfer which apply in England.

As we look to drive growth within the sector, it is important to recognise and shout about Scotland’s many successes and the stories behind them. With members based across the country, techUK will continue to showcase the fantastic work being done within and by Scotland’s thriving tech ecosystem.

If you would like to find out more about our Local Digital Index, and read the case studies and recommendations, please click here.

Stephanie Barr

Programme Manager, SME Engagement and Nations & Regions, techUK

Stephanie is the Programme Manager for SME Engagement and Nations & Regions at techUK.

Working across the two programmes, Stephanie develops activities to support the growth and development of tech SMEs and engages with members and stakeholders more broadly to help strengthen regional tech economies.

Prior to joining techUK, Stephanie worked for a political events company and as a Senior Caseworker for an MP. She holds an MA (HONS) in Politics from the University of Glasgow.

Outside of work, Stephanie enjoys travelling, climbing and playing squash.

Email:
[email protected]

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Matt Robinson

Matt Robinson

Head of Nations and Regions, techUK

Matt is techUK’s Head of Nations and Regions.

Matt is leading techUK’s work with members and stakeholders across the UK to increase the Local Digital Capital across the UK’s nation and regions, build communities and to ensure that digital technology plays a key part the post-COVID-19 levelling-up recovery.

Prior to joining techUK, Matt worked for several national education charities and membership bodies to develop their regional partnerships with schools, academy trusts, local authorities, and other stakeholders. He’s also worked with local authority leaders and other stakeholders to engage communities, work with elected members and improve public services.

He holds a BA in Politics from the University of York and an MA in International Relations from the University of Leeds. Away from work he’s a keen football fan and golfer.

If you’d like to find out more about our work in the nations and regions please get in touch with Matt:

Email:
[email protected]
Website:
techuk.org,,techuk.org,

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Nations and Regions Programme activities

techUK champions the tech sector throughout the UK. We work with local authorities, devolved government, and local and national policy makers to advocate for the tech sector in strengthening economic growth and resilience across the nations and regions. Visit the programme page here

 

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Meet the team 

Matt Robinson

Matt Robinson

Head of Nations and Regions, techUK

Ileana Lupsa

Ileana Lupsa

Programme Manager, Local Public Services and Nations and Regions, techUK

Stephanie Barr

Programme Manager, SME Engagement and Nations & Regions, techUK

Tracy Modha

Tracy Modha

Programme Marketing Assistant for Public Sector Markets, techUK

 

 

Authors

Stephanie Barr

Programme Manager, SME engagement and Nations and Regions, techUK

Stephanie is the Programme Manager for SME Engagement and Nations & Regions at techUK.

Working across the two programmes, Stephanie develops activities to support the growth and development of tech SMEs and engages with members and stakeholders more broadly to help strengthen regional tech economies.

Prior to joining techUK, Stephanie worked for a political events company and as a Senior Caseworker for an MP. She holds an MA (HONS) in Politics from the University of Glasgow.

Outside of work, Stephanie enjoys travelling, climbing and playing squash.

Email:
[email protected]

Read lessmore

Matt Robinson

Matt Robinson

Head of Nations and Regions, techUK

Matt is leading techUK’s work with members and stakeholders across the UK to increase the Local Digital Capital across the UK’s nation and regions, build communities and to ensure that digital technology plays a key part the post-COVID-19 levelling-up recovery.

Prior to joining techUK, Matt worked for several national education charities and membership bodies to develop their regional partnerships with schools, academy trusts, local authorities, and other stakeholders. He’s also worked with local authority leaders and other stakeholders to engage communities, work with elected members and improve public services.

He holds a BA in Politics from the University of York and an MA in International Relations from the University of Leeds. Away from work he’s a keen football fan and golfer.

Email:
[email protected]

Read lessmore

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