“This year we have trebled our engagement with schools which is thanks to the support of the BIMA Scotland Council, the DYWs and Education Scotland. It is also testament to the appetite in schools to prepare their students for careers of the future. We are hugely grateful to the schools directing their resources to support BIMA Digital Day and a massive thanks to all the companies across Scotland who are giving up a whole day to inform and inspire our digital leaders of the future”
David Johnstone, Managing Director, After Digital & BIMA Talent Council
On Tuesday, 13 November, representatives from over 200 businesses from across the digital industry will head back to school to spend the day inspiring 13-15 year olds around the UK. BIMA Digital Day gives young people an insight into the careers available in digital and hands-on experience tackling challenges set by our brand sponsors.
Digital Day is one of BIMA’s (British Interactive Media Association) flagship events. In many ways it’s our most important event, because it helps raise awareness about an industry many young people know next to nothing about. Digital Day helps ensure that the pipeline of talent keeps flowing, and it helps reduce the perennial skills shortage faced by the industry.
Sara Hendrie, Craigmount High School, Edinburgh says:
“I see lots of lightbulbs going off for students at BIMA Digital Day, as it helps them see the variety of pathways available. It is so hard to get students out of school for a day, having professionals come into the classroom makes all the difference. We rely on the digital industry to stay involved so that we can help young people get the best start in their careers.”
What is exciting for us in Scotland is that this year we have trebled our participation from schools and industry and this is thanks to the support of the DYWs, Education Scotland and the BIMA Scotland Council. In fact we were taken by surprise by the take up from schools and had we been better prepared we would be reporting even bigger percentage participation up take. We are already preparing with exciting partnerships for 2019 to ensure the programme continues its exponential growth and importantly reaches as many students as possible.
We would like to extend our deepest thanks to all the following companies who have so generously given up there time and go back to school for the day:
Red Evolution
Aberdeen Airport
Add Jam
Adeo
AfterDigital
AmazeRealise
Black AD
Bridge Interactive
Clark Communications
Clean Digital
CreateFuture
DAC Group
Deloitte Digital
Dog
Equator
Frame
Front Page
Gecko
Greenhill Design and Technology
Hot Tin Roof
Leith Agency
Mackerel Media
MadeBrave
Primate
Reach PLC
Redspire Ltd
Republic of Media
Robert Gordon University
Signal
Swarmonline
Tayburn
The Scotsman
This is Milk
University of West Scotland
We Are Hydrogen Ltd
Whitespace
Wire
And the amazing schools who are giving up staff time to ensure their students get some great insights into career opportunities available to them:
Aboyne Academy
Banff Academy
Bathgate Academy
Bellshill Academy
Biggar Academy
Bishopbriggs Academy
Boroughmuir High School
Braidhurst High School
Calderglen High
Caldervale High
Carluke High School
Cleveden Secondary School
Coatbridge High School
Craigie High School
Craigmount High School
Currie Community High School
Dalbeattie High School
Dunbar Grammar School
Edinburgh College
Greenfaulds High School
Hamilton Grammar
Holy Rood RC High School
Inveralmond Community High School
Kemnay Academy
Largs Academy
Lenzie Academy
Mearns Academy
Newbattle High School
Queensferry Community High School
Shawlands Academy
Springburn Academy
St Aidans High
St Mungo’s Academy
Stonelaw High
Taylor High
the royal high school
Turnbull High School
Turriff Academy
Tynecastle High School
West Calder High School
Just one day to go until Digital Day 2018 and we are looking forward to engaging with companies, more schools, more teachers and more students to work together to bridge that digital skills gap everyone is talking about.