Scotland Women in Technology (SWiT), is to fund two new cohorts of The Data Lab’s Data and AI Leadership Programme in a bid to boost AI leadership skills among women working in the Scottish tech ecosystem.
The deal forms part of a wider, multi-year partnership between SWiT and The Data Lab to create opportunities for early to mid-career women in data and AI across Scotland.
Over the next two years, SWiT will fund places for 40 women to participate in one of The Data Lab’s most successful development programmes. The course will be delivered through a blend of virtual and in-person sessions extending the reach of the programme and participants across the length and breadth of Scotland.
The Data Lab’s Data and AI Leadership Programme, delivered over 10 hours of facilitated training, covers key aspects of using data and AI for organisational benefit, focusing on readiness assessments, identifying AI opportunities, aligning strategies with goals, and promoting responsible data leadership. The 40 participants across the two cohorts in 2026 and 2027 will learn to develop and implement data and AI strategies, including planning and assessing current capabilities, and designing and implementing a data and AI strategy roadmap.
Silka Patel, founder and chair of Scotland Women in Technology (right), said: “With the rise in AI, it is vital that opportunities are created to ensure everyone has a seat at the table when it comes to making AI decisions. It can be easy to overlook female tech talent, and as we saw from the latest Lovelace Report, there has been an exodus of women from the sector as a result.
“With a firm commitment to the Scottish tech ecosystem, we want to make sure that this stops by upskilling women in AI and ensuring these skills are not overlooked in the AI-era. This partnership will unite The Data Lab’s technical pedigree with a strategic gender lens, ensuring AI leadership in Scotland is as diverse as it is innovative.”
Heather Thomson, CEO of The Data Lab (left), added: “We’re excited to work with Scotland Women in Technology to encourage and support more women to develop data and AI leadership skills that drive organisational transformation, value creation, and data-driven decision making within a culture of innovation. With women representing only 21% of the UK’s tech sector, it is critical they have access to opportunities to advance their data and AI careers – and that businesses of all sizes can tap into the diverse talent they need to thrive.
“This also plays an important role in strengthening the wider AI ecosystem and addressing many societal challenges, including AI bias at source. We welcome SWiT’s investment in tackling the talent gap and promoting equality in tech and are delighted to partner with them to deliver this programme over the coming year.”
The first phase of the course will take place virtually, commencing in September 2026. The second phase of the programme will take place in-person, launching in February 2027.
In addition to investment in the course, SWiT will also fund more than 30 places for women to attend DataFest, Scotland’s leading showcase of data and AI, attracting global speakers, industry leaders, and practitioners from across sectors and industries, over the next two years.
Those interested in participating in the course or attending DataFest 2026 can sign up here – applicants should either already be working in the technology sector, but not necessarily in a technical role, or working in a tech-related role in any sector.
