Software
Thinking about taking your software career to the next level? Scotland is the perfect place to grow your expertise.
The software sector in Scotland
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74,000 skilled people
are making their mark in the software sector in Scotland.
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Over 9400 software companies
of all sizes and specialties are located across the country.
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38% forecasted growth
by 2024, our digital technology sector goes from strength to strength.
Scotland is a great place to refresh your skills and build your career. There are many areas to choose from, like software development and IT services for digital agencies, telecommunications, banking and insurance, fintech, renewables, biotechnology, and games development.
Scotland is known as a leading location for video game innovation. It’s home to Rockstar North, creators of Grand Theft Auto –the biggest entertainment franchise of all time.
Scotland’s enduring success in software is built on a broader history of invention. If you can think outside the box, Scotland is for you.
Your skills are in demand
Software development is going from strength to strength in Scotland. Our digital technology sector is forecast to grow by an impressive 38% by 2024, further improving the career landscape and driving employment.
Around 11,200 digital companies call Scotland home. Our connected infrastructure and supportive ecosystem make it easy to experiment and explore new ways of working. Many industry-leading companies have a base here, from leading multinationals such as Amazon and JP Morgan, to home-grown trailblazers like Skyscanner and Waracle.
Find the latest roles in Scotland's software sector
We’re consistently breaking new ground, so whatever your passion, and however niche your expertise, you’ll find a home for it in Scotland.
Find jobs in the software sector on LinkedIn opens in a new window
Software employers in Scotland
Scotland is home to large multinationals and home-grown innovators including:
- Amazon Development Centre Scotland opens in a new window – ecommerce, cloud computing and AI
- User Testing opens in a new window – on-demand human insights to understand customer needs
- HP opens in a new window and Dell opens in a new window – commercial and consumer software, hardware and services
- Cisco opens in a new window – networking, security and cloud technology
- Oracle opens in a new window – corporate software, hardware and cloud computing
- IBM opens in a new window – cloud software, artificial intelligence, information technology and services
- Capgemini opens in a new window – consulting, technology services and digital transformation
- JP Morgan – financial services software and solutions
- Atos opens in a new window – cybersecurity, big data and digital transformation
- Skyscanner opens in a new window – travel metasearch engine
- Waracle opens in a new window – mobile app design and development
- Rockstar North opens in a new window – video games development
- Craneware opens in a new window – healthcare billing software
How Scotland supports the software sector
When you work in Scotland, you’re surrounded by many innovation centres and centres of excellence, each one working to accelerate technological advances. These include:
- The Data Lab opens in a new window — Scotland's innovation centre for data and AI
- CENSIS opens in a new window — the centre of excellence for sensing, imaging and Internet of Things technologies
- The National Robotarium opens in a new window — an unrivalled technology and facility, fundamental to the development and testing of robotics
You can also build expert skills through flexible learning programmes. Collaboration between colleges, universities and industries through the Digital Skills Partnership enables you to keep updated of new developments.
Explore the Digital Skills Partnership opens in a new window
Scotland’s many networks, projects and events are a great way to keep up to date with what’s new in the software and digital tech sphere These include:
- Techscaler opens in a new window – a Scotland-wide programme for creating and scaling tech start-ups. It connects companies to experts and hosts collaboration spaces for the start-up community.
In 2019 Edinburgh was named UK’s top city for start-ups by Expert Market. And it makes sense. The city has experienced a 536% increase in digital start-ups. It also attracts more foreign investment than any other tech cluster in the UK, outside London, meaning it’s filled with opportunities in the software field.
Two men study geophysics on a computer
Advanced research and development
When it comes to research productivity and impact, Scotland is ranked in the top three in worldwide institutions.
Our culture of research, innovation, and creativity fosters collaboration between academia and the technology industry, opening opportunities for career starters and experts alike to deepen their knowledge and experience.
Key networks and projects
Key networks and projects for Scotland’s software and digital tech sectors include:
- Turing Fest opens in a new window is one of Europe's fastest-growing cross-functional tech conferences, covering sectors including software development and data science
- Engage Invest Exploit opens in a new window is a year-round investor readiness programme for tech entrepreneurs. Since 2008, it has helped more than 500 start-up and scale-up companies go on to raise more than £750 million in investment
- Scotland Fintech Festival opens in a new window is an annual festival of ideas and innovation for the fintech sector
- ScotlandIS opens in a new window is the trade body for Scotland’s digital economy —ts members represent sectors including software, IT, telecoms and digital media
- CodeBase opens in a new window is the largest technology incubator in the UK with sites in Edinburgh, Stirling and Aberdeen. Other incubators include Techcube opens in a new window , Elevator opens in a new window and the Bayes Centre opens in a new window , the University of Edinburgh’s innovation hub for data science and artificial intelligence.
- The Data Lab opens in a new window is Scotland's innovation centre for data and AI – and CENSIS opens in a new window , the Centre of Excellence for sensing opens in a new window , imaging opens in a new window and Internet of Things opens in a new window technologies – are two of eight national innovation centres in Scotland opens in a new window that help accelerate technological advances
- Glasgow School of Art’s School of Simulation and Visualisation opens in a new window explores imaginative and novel uses of advanced 3D digital visualisation and interaction technologies
Quality of life
Scotland has lots to offer outside of work.
Wherever you decide to work in Scotland, you’ll discover welcoming communities, rich history and vibrant culture. Enjoy shorter commutes, world-class education, free healthcare, and plenty of green space on your doorstep.
Building a career in Scotland comes at a lower cost of living than many other major locations. You’ll benefit from flexibility for hybrid and remote working while being fully supported by reliable digital connectivity.
As one of the best-connected places in Europe, Scotland has six airports with daily direct flights to 150 destinations worldwide. We also have fast and frequent rail links to all parts of the UK.
Moving to Scotland: the practicalities
We welcome people from around the world to build exceptional careers across Scotland.
Learn more about moving to Scotland on Scotland.org opens in a new window