A digital technology hub is to be created in Dunoon following a successful funding application to Skills Development Scotland (SDS) by Argyll and Bute Council’s Education Team.

The Dunoon-based project has received a grant of £19,925 and is one of only nine successful applications from across Scotland chosen to receive a cash boost from SDS’s Digital Xtra Fund. Digital Xtra is funded by the Scottish Government Digital Skills Business Excellence Partnership and aims to support organisations that give young people aged 16 and under opportunities to learn computer science related digital skills.

Not only will this funding establish an extra-curricular digital learning hub in Dunoon – it will provide an outreach service for pupils under the age of 16 across Argyll and Bute and will explore the benefits of establishing a network of extra-curricular learning hubs in each of the Council’s four main geographical areas.

Welcoming the funding, the Council’s Policy Lead for Education and Lifelong Learning, Councillor Rory Colville said: “This hub will provide young people with access to cutting edge digital technology and will demonstrate that learning computer science is fun, enjoyable and an engaging activity – something which is extremely relevant and important in today’s society.

“It will provide exciting opportunities to help our children and young people to become creators of digital content rather than just being consumers of technology.  We want our children to have the best start in life and ensure they are ready to succeed.

“Using Drones, programmable Lego, Robotics and Raspberry Pi’s, the hub will introduce computer programming to children at a young age and help to ensure that we have skilled young people who can help to fill the skill shortage in the technology sector in years to come.”