Scottish digital skills academy CodeClan unveils high-level hire

The CodeClan academy, which said it was experiencing record demand for its programming, data and bespoke courses, recently marked its fifth anniversary and has now produced more than 1,000 graduates since opening its doors. Picture: Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP

Code­Clan, the Scottish digital skills academy, has appointed a new chief operating officer as it looks to build on its 1,000-graduate milestone.

The organisation, which has campuses in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness, has hired Neil Brown from The Data Lab as chief operating officer. He will work closely with chief executive Melinda Matthews-Clarkson to help drive engagement and partnerships.

The academy, which said it was experiencing record demand for its programming, data and bespoke courses, recently marked its fifth anniversary and has now produced more than 1,000 graduates since opening its doors.

Brown was previously The Data Lab’s project development manager, where he connected researchers and data scientists with industry and public sector organisations.

CodeClan has hired Neil Brown from The Data Lab as chief operating officer. Picture: Lesley Martin

Prior to that, he was a programme manager at the University of Strathclyde, overseeing a low carbon power and energy programme for the university in collaboration with major utility and energy companies.

Matthews-Clarkson said: “Neil has made a strong contribution to the success of The Data Lab in recent years and we’re really happy to get him on board to help manage both our internal operations and to assist in our growth in Scotland.”

Brown added: “I’ve greatly admired what Melinda and the CodeClan team have achieved, and I’m excited to join at a time when the narrative around digital skills and digitisation has never been more important.

“I now have the opportunity to stay involved in delivering impact to Scotland’s tech and data community, and I’m looking forward to helping to deliver immediate value to Scotland’s ever growing digital economy.”

CodeClan said its team and students were now either back on campus or planning to get back on campus, or utilising the remote learning virtual classroom model introduced earlier this year.

In September, Bill Douglas was appointed as the academy’s new chair, replacing Polly Purvis.

CodeClan bosses also said that they would announce a series of new industry partnerships over the “next few weeks and months”.

Initially funded by the Scottish Government, the academy is now run as a not-for-profit self-funded organisation, working with hundreds of employers across Scotland ranging from start-ups to global corporates.

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