JOBS: Director of User Services sought by University of Edinburgh

The following position is being advertised by The University of Edinburgh and the recruiter has asked us to spread word through the Girl Geek Scotland Network. Hope it is of interest to some of you. Details below and at the link:

Hudson Technology Change & Digital Transformation are now working with one of Scotland’s most recognised institutes as they seek to recruit a Director of User Services within one of their key Service Groups. This role will form a critical part of the organisation’s Digital and Service Transformation Strategy as they will focus on providing an excellent level of service for the wider organisation.

Find out more about this excellent opportunity here.

 

Posted in GGS Friends, News by

JOBS: Deputy CIO Sought by The University Of Edinburgh

The following position is being advertised by The University of Edinburgh and the recruiter has asked us to spread word through the Girl Geek Scotland Network. Hope it is of interest to some of you. Details below and at the link:

Hudson Technology, Change & Digital Transformation are proud to be working with the University of Edinburgh, one of the most globally recognised institutes in the country, as they seek to recruit the Director of their Applications Development and Operations Division within the Information Services Group. With a focus on the University’s Digital Transformation strategy over the next few years, this role is a critical hire for the organisation as they aim to stay at the forefront of technology within higher education.

Find out more about this excellent opportunity here.

Posted in GGS Friends, News by

MEDIA RELEASE: Leading Scottish firms sign up to Girl Geek Scotland’s ‘Declaration Of Support For Women In Technology’

GIRL GEEK SCOTLAND MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Belinda Love
Tel: +44(0)7850 565 819
Email: belinda@girlgeekscotland.com

Leading Scottish firms sign up to Girl Geek Scotland’s ‘Declaration Of Support For Women In Technology’

Melissa Highton (The University of Edinburgh Learning Teaching and Web Services), Jock Millican (LINC Scotland), Morna Simpson (GGS), Katie Lyne (CivTech), Jen Paton (Administrate), Andrew Williams (Administrate), Chris Brind (Waracle and Exception), Dr Jamie Graves (ZoneFox), Jane Grant (Edinburgh College), Issy Urquahart (Craneware), Jessica Mullen (Create Future). Photo credit: Girl Geek Scotland.

ZoneFox, Craneware, and The University of Edinburgh Learning, Teaching and Web Services amongst inaugural supporters

Leading digital technology network Girl Geek Scotland has launched a new Declaration Of Support For Women In Technology with backing from LINC Scotland, Administrate, Skyscanner, Create Future, & Waracle and Exception.

 

The new Declaration aims to improve equality in IT across Scotland. Currently only 18% of the Scottish IT workforce is female – impacting not only workplaces around the country but also the economy.

Morna Simpson, founder of Girl Geek Scotland, said:

“While 50/50 gender balance may not be possible, having only 18% of the IT industry being female is something that is holding Scotland back. It needs to change and now.”

To this end, the declaration calls for organisations to commit to:

  • Sharing Best Practice: To improve working processes, culture and environment to appeal to and retain women across the digital technology ecosystem.
  • Profiling Women: Either by offering speakers, mentors or role models for events across the digital technology ecosystem.
  • Training for Women: Supporting and enabling the widest distribution of lifelong training and resources in digital technology sectors, sub-sectors and associated sectors across Scotland.
  • Being Visible Allies: Promoting women in technology by contributing to events and supporting the widest distribution of promotional materials to inspire women to enter into or remain in digital technology sectors.

 

Morna Simpson thinks the stakes are too high for Scotland to get this wrong.

She said:

“Digital Technology is a growing sector in Scotland, and becoming a more important part of our economy every day. However, a global, digital Scotland will only succeed with digital talent that is globally competitive.

“Currently women only make up 18% of the Digital Technology workforce. Despite a strong education sector only 38% of women graduating from IT courses hold IT positions. If Digital Technology employers cannot find a way to attract more women into careers in tech, then the whole economy will continue to be constrained by lack of digital expertise.

“If Scotland is to achieve its ambition of becoming a world-class digital nation by 2020, it is essential that employers and organisations across the Digital Technology ecosystem commit to and collaborate in making the Digital Technology sector appeal to and retain women.”

With the Declaration comes a call to working with those who are sincere about improving Scotland’s opportunities. Morna Simpson said:

“We are respected in the community and well connected with investors, businesses, politicians and other organisations. As well as holding world-class panel events, we hold coding classes, hackathons, and run a mentoring community. These activities are part of an integrated programme whereby people are given the inspiration, skills, practice, and business advice needed to launch a startup business in digital tech. They enable movement up the pipeline; they enable entry into a technology career from another sector, but more importantly they are designed with women in mind.”

It is on the back of this activity that Girl Geek Scotland recently won a tender to deliver a Role Model and Mentoring Framework in Digital Technology for School Aged Girls across Scotland, on behalf of Skills Development Scotland.

The first organisations to sign the Declaration are:

Jock Millican of LINC Scotland said:

“LINC Scotland is happy to support the Declaration as we think it is important to support women in technology and enterprise. We have a growing number of female led technology businesses in our portfolio including from our Equity Gap: Leah Hutcheon at Appointedd, Alison Grieve at GHold, and Rebecca Pick at Pick Protection.”

Chris Martin, CEO of Waracle said:

“I’m proud to be part of the technology industry – this is an industry that has potential to give all people an equal chance to succeed. I believe technology is inherently liberal and diverse, but it’s not yet 100%, and I hope Girl Geek Scotland can help our sector realise its full potential, while at the same time serve as a role model for diversity in more traditional industries.  Our whole company is delighted to support Girl Geek Scotland.”

Melissa Highton, Assistant Principal and Director at The University of Edinburgh Learning, Teaching and Web Services said:

“The University of Edinburgh is committed to encouraging women working in technology roles. All parts of higher education are being transformed by digital services and new ways of learning and teaching. Our support for Girl Geek Scotland is a valuable part of our approach to this and recognition of the many and varied careers emerging in these new exciting areas.”

Issy Urquhart of Craneware said:

“Craneware is thrilled to support Girl Geek Scotland in its efforts to further diversity in the technology community. Girl Geek Scotland’s mission to drive diversity and creativity in high growth sectors is a mission we wholeheartedly share.”

Belinda Love of Girl Geek Scotland said:

“Girl Geek Scotland has become well known for supporting women in technology, digital media, and enterprise – as well as many crossover sectors and sub-sectors – and our Declaration has formalised and focused our four key aims. Organisations that support us will be showing that they align with these values, which we have seen in our network and community can inspire life-changing effects. We are very grateful to the organisations who have subscribed to our Declaration from the outset, their support will really help us achieve our goals.”

If your organisation is interested in signing the Declaration for Supporting Women in Technology you can sign and subscribe here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/supportggs

ENDS

 

 

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

IMAGES:

Launch images are available – FOR MEDIA AND SUBSCRIBER USE ONLY – for download here: https://gallery.girlgeekscotland.com/#collection/14

High resolution Girl Geek Scotland logos are available for download here: https://gallery.girlgeekscotland.com/#collection/5

Support badges are available – FOR MEDIA AND SUBSCRIBER USE ONLY – for download here: https://gallery.girlgeekscotland.com/#collection/2

General GGS event images available – FOR MEDIA USE ONLY – for download here: https://gallery.girlgeekscotland.com/#collection/7

Note to media: Morna Simpson can be reached for comment on 07533329507 and morna@girlgeekscotland.com

(Any other usage please contact belinda@girlgeekscotland.com for permission.)

GIRL GEEK SCOTLAND:

Girl Geek Scotland (GGS) is a network and community for women working with Creativity, Computing and Enterprise, and related sectors in Scotland. GGS aims to develop a network of women, who are able to support each other at entry-level and throughout their careers, working at the intersection between these areas.

KEY SPONSORS:

Now home to over 18,000 students from over 100 countries, we first welcomed 800 students as Napier Technical College in 1964. However our story goes back to the time of John Napier, the brilliant sixteenth century mathematician and philosopher from whom we take our name. When you come to Edinburgh Napier University, you’ll study at one of our six specialist schools. Each of our schools is an impressive institution in its own right, with world-class facilities, academics, researchers and international links.

Bright Red Triangle (BRT) offers a comprehensive set of professional/personal development activities for students and graduates in partnership with key stakeholders within and beyond Edinburgh Napier. Our focus is on improving the enterprise skills and employability of our students and graduates while instilling them with an entrepreneurial mindset. We offer business incubation services, paid consultancy experience as well as design thinking and design your future courses to our current and past students.

LINC Scotland

LINC Scotland is the national association for business angels in Scotland, with a membership which includes many active individual investors and most of the main angel groups or syndicates. We represent our members at government level in Edinburgh, London and Brussels and were founding members of both the European Business Angels Association (EBAN) and the World Business angels Association (WBAA). Since 1993, we have played a significant and active part in changing the business culture in Scotland and the Scottish business angel marketplace is now recognised as amongst the most developed in Europe.

Posted in Media Releases, News by

REPORT: Scottish Technology Industry Survey

Room For More Growth!

The Scottish Technology Industry Survey report looks forward to more growth for Scotland’s tech sector

Research by ScotlandIS, the report describes Scotland’s digital technologies industry as having an optimistic future and continuing to grow sales, profits and headcount, after a strong 2016.

The survey found that 82% of businesses expect sales to increase in 2017 and 78% of those surveyed said they have a very optimistic or optimistic view for the year ahead.

The digital technologies industry’s positive outlook follows the sustained growth of the sector in 2016. Seven out of ten companies reported an increase in sales, some by more than 50% year on year.

Predicted employment growth is also on the up since last year’s survey. Overall 78% of firms forecast that they will hire more staff in 2017, compared with 66 percent in 2016. This rises to 84% for small businesses when taken on their own.

Digital technologies trade body, ScotlandIS, produced the annual survey sponsored in 2017 by Nine Twenty Technology.

Polly Purvis, chief executive of ScotlandIS, said:

“The results of this year’s survey show the confidence and resilience of the digital technologies industry which is continuing to grow and maintain its optimistic outlook despite uncertainties in the political environment.

“This is great news not just for our sector, but also for the economy as a whole. The digital technologies industry generates over £5 billion in GVA for Scotland every year and is becoming more and more important in our increasingly digital world.”

The skills shortage remains an issue for firms but the data showed companies are embracing alternative routes into the sector, with 38% of respondents reporting that they are likely to recruit modern apprentices in 2017, up from 29% last year.

For the first time since 2013, demand for experienced staff has outstripped that for graduates, although the need for university graduates continues to be a priority for firms of all sizes.

Software and web development remain the most in demand skills but there is also a strong requirement for commercial, business support and project management skills, which are required by more than two thirds of companies. In this area sales and business development skills are particularly sought after.

A growing number of firms (73%) expect to recruit the majority of new staff from within Scotland, compared with 60% in 2016. At the same time, the percentage of businesses forecasting that new talent will come from outside the UK has dropped from 21% to 9%.

READ THE FULL REPORT HERE

 

Posted in GGS Friends, News by

EVENTS: Sign Up For our FREE webinars: Tackling The Technology Gender Gap Together

An introduction to becoming a digital technology role model or mentor for school age girls.

Free Webinar SIGN UP ON EVENTBRITE HERE

 

  • Thursday 27th April (19:30)
  • Thursday 4th May (12:30)
  • Tuesday 9th May (10:00)
  • Saturday 13th May (13:00)

We are repeating the webinar four times to ensure everybody who wishes to take part gets a chance to join in at a time that is convenient.

This is an online event lasting approximately 40 minutes.

Whether you’re a school leaver on a training course, a recent graduate, or early in your tech career, please volunteer to become a role model or mentor for school age girls! By becoming a role model, you will be making an important contribution to the future of the digital technology sector and helping improve the economic prosperity of Scotland.

This training webinar will get you started, show you how to use the available resources, and help you know what to expect, so you can go into schools confident you are fully prepared.

You will learn how to talk to teenagers about digital technology and gender discrimination and why both are important. You will learn how to create engaging presentations and interactive learning experiences while developing your communication skills and enhancing your professional capabilities and relationships.

We will review the accompanying activity packs and guides that will help you when you are ready to become a role model or mentor. You will be able to download these soon from www.digitalworld.net

The webinar will cover:

  • how to engage a teenage audience,
  • why digital technology is important and the range of jobs available,
  • why we have a gender problem in digital technology,
  • why it is important to get more girls into technology,
  • how to talk about jobs in digital technology so that they appeal to girls,
  • how young people can get into the industry,
  • how to use and tailor the provided resources,
  • how to construct and deliver interactive learning experiences,
  • what practical information and logistics you need before visiting schools,
  • how to become a role model or mentor.

All the webinars will cover the same material but places are limited so please select a time that is suitable for you.

These webinars will use Google Hangouts to enable the widest possible audience. It’s available online and for both iOS and Android mobile phones. The link to the Google Hangouts will be shared with ticket holders the week before the webinar takes place.

Please also fill in our survey. This will help us understand what we can do to support and motivate you in your role.

Posted in Events, News by

EVENT: Opportunities for Entrepreneurs – Blockchain, SMART Contracts, & Cyber Security

Join us for our FREE event at Spring Technology, 12 – 13 St Andrews Square in Edinburgh.

Blockchain and associated technologies, are of growing interest, not just in Fintech, but also in the legal sector and security. GGS will invite three panel experts to explore technologies, trends and opportunities for financial support in Scotland. This is your compass for the hottest areas for business development.

This event gives some great background material for those intending on entering our Hackathon.

  • Learn about the opportunities for entrepreneurs in these fast growing sectors
  • Ask our speakers any burning questions you have in the Q+A
  • Develop your business network

As usual Girl Geek Scotland will provide plenty of time for networking, wine and nibbles.

Speakers

(Host) Samantha Leeman – Senior Consultant – Girl Geek Scotland/Spring Technology

Greig Paul – Strathclyde University – Smart Contracts

Katie Lyne – Scottish Government – Civ Tech Update

Andy Cobley – University of Dundee – Blockchain

Expert in Cybersecurity TBC

Agenda

6.00 – 6.20pm Registration & Networking

6.20 – 6.30pm Introduction

6.30 – 7.30pm Presentations

7.30 – 8.00pm Audience Q&A

8.00 –  8.30pm Networking & Wrap up.

FREE Registration on Eventbrite

We have limited space, and fire regulations mean that only people who register on Eventbrite can be admitted to the event.

Refreshments

Wine/soft drinks and canapes. (Not a full dinner event)

VISIT OUR EVENT POST TO REGISTER FOR THIS FREE EVENT HERE

Girl Geek Scotland

At Girl Geek Scotland our aim is to grow a community of professionals and entrepreneurs who are able to support each other at entry-level and throughout their careers in computing, creativity, and enterprise. A big part of this is ensuring that there are role models for everyone to learn from and aspire to.

Girl Geek Scotland welcomes people from all gender identities, physical abilities, neurotypical and atypical people, religions and ethnicities. We ask everyone attending to show respect for others at all times.

GGS Event Policies

Please refer to our Anti-Harassment Policy and Event Photography / Videography Policy as set out on our website. Your acceptance of which is assumed should you register to attend one of our events.

With thanks

With enormous thanks to our partners and sponsors who help us make this happen. They are:

Core Funding & Major Sponsor 2017

LINC Scotland is our Core Funder for 2017. LINC is the umbrella organisation for Angel Finance in Scotland and offers Entrepreneurs startup finance to get their businesses off the ground. They have extensive expertise in investment and can offer support to new investors in Scotland.

EdinburghNapierUniversity

Now home to over 18,000 students from over 100 countries, we first welcomed 800 students as Napier Technical College in 1964. However our story goes back to the time of John Napier, the brilliant sixteenth century mathematician and philosopher from whom we take our name. When you come to Edinburgh Napier University, you’ll study at one of our six specialist schools. Each of our schools is an impressive institution in its own right, with world-class facilities, academics, researchers and international links.

BRT working logo

Bright Red Triangle (BRT) offers a comprehensive set of professional/personal development activities for students and graduates in partnership with key stakeholders within and beyond Edinburgh Napier. Our focus is on improving the enterprise skills and employability of our students and graduates while instilling them with an entrepreneurial mindset. We offer business incubation services, paid consultancy experience as well as design thinking and design your future courses to our current and past students.

Posted in Events, News by

LEARNING: FREE webinars for tech employers to address the gender gap

Tech Employers – attract, recruit and retain more female talent!

Skills Development Scotland and Equate Scotland are delighted to launch a series of free webinars in partnership with the Digital Technologies Skills Group. These webinars will provide all digital technology employers whether start-up, SME or large, the advice, skills and insights needed to increase the number of women in tech.

  • The webinars will be an interactive guide through the following issues:
  • How to take positive action measures
  • How to recruit and retain women employees
  • The business and economic case for increases women’s representation in tech
  • Implementing flexible working
  • Overcoming challenges and barriers
  • Tackling biased language

The webinars will be accompanies by a Best Practice Guide with case studies from employers taking action on gender across Scotland.

This will be a 3 part series of 1.5 hour webinars taking place on the 18th, 24th and 27th of April. All you need to is register and logon from your desk to take part!

REGISTER HERE ON EVENTBRITE.

Posted in Events, GGS Friends, News by

NEWS: Girl Geek Scotland Join Scottish Mentoring Network

Girl Geek Scotland (GGS)‘s Mentoring Community in Digital Technology was launched in 2016. We have been victims of our own success as demand has been higher than we expected and at times quite overwhelming.

To respond to the demand for this we have:

  • Grown our Mentoring Team to 8 people in clearly defined roles
  • Diversified our programme through a number of channels creating a one-to-many, and many-to-many model for improved efficiencies through events and workshops
  • Developed an online network to engage with wider group (geographically distributed)

We hold 4 mentoring events a year and aim to match 150 people with mentors in 2017. We also run an online peer-to-peer mentoring network where people can come to share experience and advice online. Experienced community managers who provoke, and support healthy discussion lead this.

We are now seeking to increase our impact with the support of the Scottish Mentoring Network (SMN).

SMN offer a range of benefits and support that we can draw on (click here to find out more).

In particular GGS will make use of the SMN Good Practice Guide, and the training they provide for mentors. With this support we aim to raise standards and professionalism in mentoring, providing a benchmark for programmes across a range of contexts.

We are currently seeking sponsorship to take our own Mentoring Team through accredited training in 2018. This will pave the way for GGS to take on the role of mentoring the mentors for the SDS Role Model and Mentoring Framework in Digital Technology for School Age Girls. This will provide additional support for young mentors who are themselves still in FE, training courses or in the early stages of their careers.

The Scottish Mentoring Network

The Scottish Mentoring Network began in 1997 as an informal group of individuals and organisations interested in mentoring. It is now a membership organisation covering projects throughout Scotland.

The SMN aim to provide a distinctively Scottish perspective on mentoring, which is developed and sustained through co-operation and partnership between mentoring providers and users at a national, local and thematic level and policy/decision makers, funders and the academic community.

Our GGS Mentoring Community

Girl Geek Scotland, Mentoring Community: Duration, Value, Timescales, KPIs

Girl Geek Scotland started our Mentoring Community in June 2016. This was in response to research which identified mentoring as critical to developing careers for women in technology.

Objectives for 2016:
  • Create 1 role to Lead the Mentoring Programme, to be responsible for organising events and manage matching of candidates with mentors through our partners
  • Create an annual programme of 4 – 6 informal networking meetings
  • Estimated participants per event 30 – 50
  • Place 15 people per quarter (a total of 30 people) in 2016
  • Develop a network of partners to support our programme with sponsorship and mentor outreach

This is an ongoing project which we expected to grow slowly over time and improve incrementally in response to the needs of the community.

Performance Exceeded Expectations

We estimated events to attract 30-50 people, and that perhaps 30-50% of the audience may sign up for mentors. For our first event we booked a venue for 50 people, but due to over 100 ticket registrations we moved to a larger capacity venue. We expected 12- 20 requests to be mentored, but instead had over 130 by the end of our second meeting.

Applications were closed temporarily, to enable us to implement a number of mitigating strategies to better support the initiative which I have described below. We were able to place over 60 people in 2016, and with our new personnel and processes in place we expect to have successfully placed over 200 people by the end of 2017.

Objectives To Meet 2017 Goals
  • Grow our Mentoring Team to 8 people in clearly defined roles
  • Diversify programme through a number of channels creating a one-to-many, and many-to-many model for improved efficiencies
  • Develop an online network to engage with wider group (geographically distributed)
  • Identify Key Issues and Challenges from online network to feed into the programme
  • Grow core operational support from Admin Comms and Marketing to 3 people
  • Create an annual programme of 4 Mentoring Events and Workshops
  • Provide for 80 – 100 participants per Mentoring Event (up to 400 people pa)
  • Place 50 people per quarter, and a total of 200 people in 2017Finesse on-boaring of candidate mentees (wider group than events programme)
  • Finesse onboarding of large-scale corporates to support our programme in bulk
  • Develop process for Mentoring Team to enhance quality of matches
Posted in News by

OFFER: Special Discount for Girl Geek Scotland Network for EIE17

From our EIE17 chums to our Girl Geek Scotland network:

To all in our Girl Geek Scotland Network, we’ve got a fantastic offer for you to attend #EIE 2017.

  • Startup ticket for an amazing £50 … that’s a massive saving of £100 per ticket for the Early Bird ticket.
  • Single tickets for dinner at £100 per ticket saving a further £30.

Contact @belinda here on the Girl Geek Scotland online network for more details…

Deadline is 14th April.

 

Posted in News by

VOLUNTEER: We Are Recruiting Again

2 Relationship Managers & 2 Educational Development Officers

We have lots of exciting things planned and we need our team to grow.

You can see our full programme of events here We know you are awesome and we’d love you to join our team.

Working With Us

Girl Geek Scotland has always relied on volunteers to help us create our world class events. We fit our work into coffee breaks and after hours effort. Many hands make light work, and for every event we have an “All hands on deck approach!”. This means that the Lead for one event will offer support to the Lead on another event. You may be coordinating Industry Leaders for one event and serving wine at the next! As we are expanding there is a need for clearer lines of communication, and we are now developing specific roles that meet the needs of our community, funders and partner organisations. We are getting more and more men attending our events. We have one or two men joining our team this year and would welcome more applications from the boys. Its great to have guys in tech onside! If you are prepared to roll up your sleeves, we can help you reach your ambitions!

Role Descriptions

Education Development Officers (2 Roles) Purpose: To provide consistent high quality, learning resource packs for our events. * We expect these resources to be distributed Scotland wide through our existing Partner organisations.

  • Consulting with the Programme Manager, Event Leads and Speakers
  • Create a pack of resources for online access
  • Review of events to extract key learnings
  • Consult with audience for feedback and guidance on future sessions
  • Production of Project Briefs and other bespoke GGS materials as required
  • Relationship building with partner organisations
  • Sign-post members to other organisations that can help

Must have a strong interest in creativity, computing and enterprise. This will be a good fit with someone who has a qualification or experience in eduction or training. Mentoring Relationship Manager (2 roles) Purpose: to manage the relationships with partner organisations, to take part in matching mentors and mentees, to ensure participants have a good experience.

  • Attend up to 4 Mentoring Events and support on the ground logistics
  • Develop relationships with large organisations that can supply mentors for our community through Corporate & Social Responsibility and HR initiatives
  • Attend meetings and participate in matching mentors and mentees
  • Keeping everyone informed of progress (emails etc) & ensuring any safety info is adhered to
  • Design questionnaires and surveys to analyse needs and develop future strategy and events planning
  • Ensuring Next Steps are always clear to partners, mentors and mentees

Ideally our Relationship Managers will already have good relationships with a number of large organisations that can help provide mentors for our mentoring programme. An understanding of routes to career progression, is an advantage.

How to Apply

Please answer the following questions in an email to jayne@girlgeekscotland.com with the Subject Heading: VOLUNTEER

  1. What role do you want to apply for?
  2. What is *your* ambition for Girl Geek Scotland?
  3. How do you see your efforts and skills being used to greatest effect?
  4. How specifically will this role help you in your own career and life?
Posted in News by
« Older Entries Recent Entries »