IT FIRMS GOING BACK TO THE FUTURE
- Innovation and skills event to become annual event
- Positive feedback from first Hi Sgil
- Technology companies to asked to return to Inverness
A technology innovation and skills event held in Inverness recently is to become an annual event after positive feedback from exhibitors and the public.
The HI SGIL event was held at Eden Court Theatre on Saturday, 2 June as part of the Inverness Monster Science Festival and brought together some of the world’s leading IT companies – including Fujitsu, Microsoft, Stormfront and Lego Education- to highlight the uses of technology in the workplace and how creativity in learning is helping businesses grow.
The industry giants joined Highland-based firms, The Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Talent Scotland, government agencies and the University of the Highlands and Islands in outlining to young people and educators the value of technology.
A series of demonstrations highlighted a range of technology applications including Microsoft Kinect, the latest i-pads and Lego robots.
More than 200 people attended the event with 67 rating it ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’ in a survey.
The first HI SGIL was organised by Abby Wilson, an industrial trainee at Fujitsu in Inverness, who said: “The idea of Hi-Sgil was to bring together everything that the Highlands have to offer to encourage more people to study, work and live in the region.
”I think we succeeded in that and I am delighted it will return in future years.”
Fujitsu’s Scotland Country Director – Public Sector, Brodie Shepherd, added: “The inaugural event was a tremendous success with a lot of positive feedback from those who attended. It highlighted the use of technology in learning and in developing an industry that is already a major employer in the Highlands. It is only right that it becomes an annual event.”
Saturday’s event was opened by Drew Hendry, leader of The Highland Council, who has called for a meeting of major IT companies to help bring more jobs in the growing sector to the region.
Councillor Hendry said he wants the gathering to develop a framework for future work that would see the council set priorities to assist the industry in bringing fresh investment into the area.
The region already benefits from thousands of IT jobs and Mr Hendry said he is determined to ensure young people in the area acquire the skills to equip them for future employment and provide the industry with a suitably trained workforce.
Mr Hendry said: “The IT sector is already a valuable employer in the Highlands and it will continue to be an important provider of jobs in the future. It is vital we offer assistance to encourage further investment in the area to create new employment and also develop the skills that will give firms a workforce tailor made for modern industry.
“I hope this meeting will provide a platform for the council and industry representatives to work together to provide mutually beneficial goals.”
Fujitsu, the world’s fourth biggest IT firm, already employs 150 staff in the Highlands and sees the area as key to its strategy to grow its presence in Scotland.
In November Fujitsu announced it had created the world’s fastest computer under an initiative led by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to solve energy, sustainability, healthcare, climate change, industrial and space challenges.
The K computer, created jointly with the RIKEN research institute in Japan, boasts speeds of more than four times that of its nearest competitor.
Earlier this year Highland pupils got a chance to suggest uses for the computer as part of a global campaign to encourage worldwide conversations on how its power could best be harnessed.
Using the website MyKindaCrowd.com the discussion was taken into schools, colleges and universities and was outlined at a recent STEM (science, technology, engineering, maths) event run by the Scottish Council for Development and Industry at Eden Court Theatre.
During HI SGIL Fujitsu held a small challenge to suggest uses for the supercomputer and Inverness youngster Stephen Hay won a £25 iTunes voucher for his idea to track criminals and reduce crime.
For further information contact:
John Ross
Lucid PR
01463 724593; 07730 099617
johnross@lucidmessages.com
