Blackadders LLP is to support the Digital Xtra Fund to help every young person in Scotland have access to innovative and digitally creative activities.

Funds raised by the charity Digital Xtra are awarded to schools and community groups across the country, providing kit and extracurricular activites to inspire young people to learn digital technology skills. The initiative is open to every young person regardless of their gender, background or where they live.

Blackadders LLP is to become a partner to the Fund and will invest in at least one standalone project.

Kirk Dailly, Head of Blackadders’ Business Services Group, said: “We are delighted to be able to help with this fantastic scheme. It is vital that young people are given the help and inspiration they need to pursue careers and hobbies in technology.

“We have seen through our extensive work across the games and technology sectors that the demand for new talent is as strong as ever. If Digital Xtra can inspire young people to at least consider taking their interest in tech further and help them to develop the skills they need then it will have done an amazing job for the country.”

Blackadders LLP is regarded as having Scotland’s leading video games team and has worked with and advised some of the biggest players in the sector including 4J Studios Ltd (developer of Minecraft console edition), as well as acting in various publishing deals for major console releases. Blackadders was reappointed official legal partner of Scottish Games Week.

Digital Xtra has seen demand skyrocket for after school coding clubs and wider STEM activities. It has called for industry make up a current government shortfall in funding. The work of the Fund is particularly important as recent figures have shown a decrease in the number of computing teachers across Scotland.

Despite the shortage of teachers, there are passionate educators across the country who run coding, robotics, and games development clubs, funded by Digital Xtra, because they understand how important these skills are to our young people’s future.

Over the past eight years the charity has funded 163 digital skills learning initiatives, to the tune of almost £1million, reaching nearly 55,000 young people across Scotland, from the Borders to the Outer Hebrides.

Kraig Brown, Partnerships and Development Manager for Digital Xtra said: “Digital Xtra is pleased to welcome Blackadders as our newest industry partner. Digital skills are no longer just for people working in the tech sector, but are increasingly critical across sectors including legal, finance, and manufacturing. Even if young people today don’t become future developers, they will still need digital confidence and an understanding of tech. For example, Blackadders provides advice and solutions covering a range of digital tech including software development, mobile apps, AI, IoT, video games, and FinTech. As such, they recognise first-hand the value of supporting young people to achieve this confidence and understanding.”

Other Digtial Xtra Partners include Chroma Ventures, Skyscanner, Baillie Gifford and JP Morgan.