TECHNOLOGY firms across Scotland raised a collective £345 million in venture capital funding last year, according to new research highlighting the sector’s continuing strength despite the Covid pandemic.
Data compiled by Tech Nation and search engine Adzuna shows that the number of funding rounds rose from 87 in 2019 to 96 last year. Among the most significant deals was a £25.5m funding in January by rocket company Skyrora, and £50m raised by Edinburgh biotech firm Roslin Technologies in July.
At 2,442, Scotland also had a higher number of verified tech start-ups in 2020 than anywhere else in the UK except London and the southeast of England. IT-related roles make up more than 15 per cent of current job vacancies, with 4,414 unfilled posts as of December.
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The figures have been published ahead of a digital roundtable being held today to discuss the challenges facing the tech sector as it works to create jobs and contribute to economic recovery. Hosted by the Digital Economy Council and Tech Nation, the event brings together local companies, investors, university representatives and others to collaborate on the challenges posed by the pandemic, with findings going back to the Department for Digital, Cultural, Media and Sport (DCMS).
“Scotland’s flourishing tech scene not only attracts investment from global companies such as Amazon and Rockstar Games but is also a production line for stellar homegrown firms including Skyscanner and FanDuel,” Minister for Digital Caroline Dinenage said.
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“The UK Government has invested in skills, infrastructure, and research and development to create the right business environment for this success, and I am delighted to join entrepreneurs, investors and other stakeholders to celebrate its resilience throughout the pandemic.”
With IT skills in high demand, the average advertised salary for a tech job in Edinburgh stands at £59,776, above the UK average of £53,945.
Specialist workers such as solutions architects, who integrate and programme software systems to suit a company’s needs, have seen average salaries rise to £69,532, up more than a fifth on 2019. Product managers looking for a new job can expect an average advertised salary of £64,054, up by nearly a third since 2019.
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