Third Sector Virtual Forum with Peter Jaco, Co-Founder of the Scottish Tech Army | Wednesday 1st July

On Wednesday 1^st July FWB Park Brown hosted the latest in our Third Sector forums.

On Wednesday 1^st July FWB Park Brown hosted the latest in our Third Sector forums.

We were absolutely delighted to be joined by Peter Jaco, Co-founder of the Scottish Tech Army.  Peter walked us through the set up, launch and growth of the Scottish Tech Army, and about the amazing work that they are doing in the Third Sector in Scotland.

In April 2020, Peter co-founded the Scottish Tech Army (www.scottishtecharmy.org), which is a volunteer technology force created to build a technology response force to help Scottish Charities, Health and Social Care and Local and National Government that have technology challenges as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.  Since the call for volunteers was launched on the 28th April, 2020, nearly 850 diverse Scottish Technology volunteers have joined the Scottish Tech Army with a wide range of technology skills. The ‘army’ are currently working on over 50 Covid-19 response and recovery projects for both the Scottish Government and charities.

The Scottish Tech Army (STA) is mobilising Scotland’s tech talent to build solutions to the challenges posed by coronavirus. The initial idea came from individuals involved in the Private Equity community and the Scottish Government’s Digital programme into harnessing and helping the tech talent in Scotland which was adversely affected by the Covid-19 crisis and were on furlough or unable to find employment. The focus has been on helping the third sector and to date more than 900 volunteers have become involved in the STA. They are varied as regards experience, age and geography and are currently working on more than 80 projects, combining their talents to support the sector with tech orientated challenges.

The types of projects vary from helping a PPE supply charity in Aberdeen, updating websites to longer term more strategic challenges.

Depending on the issue to be addressed, a project team will be put in place, and those seeking to get more work experience can work with and learn from those who are experienced tech specialists and leaders.

Effectively the STA is helping to digitise Scotland’s third sector whilst giving the opportunity for the tech sector to use their expertise on valued projects. The idea is also to get people into work and there is the opportunity going forward, for charities to employ individuals or potentially offer an apprenticeship.

There were a variety of charities represented on the call, who all saw this as a win-win situation, for the third sector and the tech sector, and further to the Report published on 22^nd June from the Scottish Government Economic Recovery Group, it was felt that the STA had a role to play in addressing some of the digital challenges and potential outcomes described in that.

Charities interested in finding out more about this are invited to contact Peter Jaco at peter@scottishtecharmy.org

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FWB Park Brown
FWB Park Brown continues to deliver its full range of services which includes providing support and advice during the Covid- 19 Public Health and developing global economic crisis.
We have established a range of cross sector as well as sector focused discussion forums for Chairs, NEDs, CEOs and all the main business management disciplines.  We are also working closely with the Scottish HR Leadership Group to provide constructive support including discussion forums and Q & As.
Summaries of the discussions will be posted on our news section and also on LinkedIn.
For further information about any of these forums please contact us via enquiries@fwbparkbrown.com