Heineken, the Scottish Government, Sainsbury’s Bank, the Royal Bank of Scotland, Merkle Aquila and Data Fest sponsors SAS are just some of the companies that will be attending Data Talent’s annual introduction event. Data Talent provides employers with the opportunity to meet some of Scotland’s best digital students.
This year Data Talent’s participation rate has increased nearly 60% with 300 Masters and PhD students expected to attend. The growing market for data talent in Scotland, which is thought to be worth £17 billion, is one of the driving forces behind this increase. Demand from employers has also boosted the number of academic opportunities available to students within Scotland.
Forging New Partnerships and Collaborations
Since its inaugural event three years ago, over 500 students have benefited from The Data Lab’s educational programme, 130 of which embarked on the latest Data Science MSc courses at 11 of Scotland’s universities.
Data Lab Skills Manager, Joshua Ryan-Saha, said: “Data is becoming an increasingly valuable resource in a growing range of sectors and industries. The demand for those educated in its use is growing rapidly and Scotland is increasingly regarded as a hub for fostering new data talent.”
“The opportunity for students to meet directly with potential employers is an incredibly valuable one, and the direct impact the event has on jobs post-graduation is measurable.”
Vibrant Community
Robin Huggins, Director of Academy & Client Services at MBN Solutions, Data Talent recruitment partners, said: “Scotland is in a unique position in its ability to foster and shape data talent. The proximity of our universities, and the collaborations between them have created a vibrant community which employers are increasingly tapping into.”
“Our students graduate with real-world experience as well as world-class training, so they are prime targets for the most competitive of employers. Events such as Data Talent are incredibly valuable in the encouragement of dialogue between students and employers, and the range of businesses taking part in the collider event demonstrates the scale of industries currently expanding in the data field.”
Overview of the Day
Talks, exhibitions and skills workshops will take place throughout the day, which will be presented by world-class speakers and hosts. Students will have ample opportunity for unstructured networking throughout the event, which takes place on 20th March in Glasgow.
Organised as part of Scotland’s Data Fest 18, Data Talent is one of several events taking place across the country from 19-23rd March.