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by Sofia Villegas
13 May 2025
The Data Lab launches skills framework to future-proof Scotland’s AI workforce

Anna Ashton-Scott, head of skills at The Data Lab and high education minister Graeme Dey | Alamy

The Data Lab launches skills framework to future-proof Scotland’s AI workforce

The Data Lab has unveiled a data and AI skills framework to ensure Scotland’s workforce is fit for the future.

The new guidance addresses challenges in digital education, offering pathways for people and businesses to improve their capabilities, and for educators to identify talent shortages.

It aims to tackle barriers to data and AI upskilling and help navigate future workforce development.

The framework will be a “vital asset” to help drive the expertise “needed to shape Scotland’s future”, higher education minister Graeme Dey said.

It was announced during  The Data Lab’s annual data conference, which gathered leaders from across the world to discuss the opportunities and threats posed by innovative technologies.

Dey said: “This is an exciting time to be involved in the world of data and AI and the impressive programme for this year’s DataFest is testament to the vitality of the sector here in Scotland.   

“It is clear that technological advances are transforming how we live and work, driving growth and innovation across a range of sectors. 

  “The Data Lab’s Data and AI Skills Framework will be a vital asset across sectors and communities, driving the knowledge and learning needed to shape Scotland’s future - setting the course for success and a future built on the talent that surrounds us.” 

The roadmap groups individual into four data and & AI “personas” - citizen, worker, professional and leader - which are defined by their competency on technical skills, data and AI ethics, meta skills and leadership skills.

It looks to help individual asses their skillset and understand how to improve it, organisations identify the skills needed for data-driven decision-making and educators design targeted learning programmes.

Anna Ashton-Scott, head of skills at The Data Lab said: “It can be daunting to know where to get started with data and AI skills, so we created our skills framework to make it easy for people to chart their learning journey and know what skills to build next, for themselves or for their employees. 

"Foundational data and AI literacy is becoming essential across job roles in every sector, regardless of seniority, but we know that there are still significant gaps. We hope our updated framework will be a powerful tool to help individuals and organisations progress across foundational, intermediate and advanced literacy levels to ensure no-one is left behind.” 

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