National Software Strategy for Scotland : Scotland's Potential In Software : The Potential for Increased Scottish Supply

Skills

People and skills are the fundamental success factors in software. The key combinations are:

• sourcing sufficient supply or access to trained software engineers with high level skills;
• retaining high level skills;
• managing software development and implementation work whereby appropriate skills are used for appropriate tasks and individuals are not overskilled in their roles;
• access to experienced non-executive directors with knowledge of wider business management, deal making, funding and finance, and managing growth and innovation;
• combining or sourcing both technical skills with commercial skills especially in small and mid sized firms <100 employees.

Scotland produces a significant number of skilled software graduates, but it is generally recognised that there is a low level of retention of the skills in Scotland. A significant contributory factor in this process is the lack of major national, international or global software firms in Scotland.

Many small/mid sized firms report difficulties in accessing commercial skills appropriate to software. This is characteristic of a region which lacks scale of activity, the presence of larger firms and developed international linkages. Our studies of other exemplar regions demonstrated similar development issues in their early growth requiring solutions from out-of-region. As scale and recognition of the industry grows, then local skills retention increases and international and financial linkages provide access to a wider skills pool.