600 school girls from 15 state and independent schools across Edinburgh and the surrounding areas have gathered today for the third annual Fearless Women in Computing event at St George’s School.
The event aims to address the gender gap in Computing Science by bringing together schools, tech companies and innovators to create an immersive, hands-on experience, with more than 20 companies in attendance, including The National Robotarium, IBM and The Quantum Software Lab at the University of Edinburgh.
Computing Science teacher and founder of dressCode, Toni Scullion, said:“The Fearless Women in Computing event is a fantastic initiative.
It’s amazing to hear the sounds of high fives and exclamations from the girls when they solve a problem or make something happen. If we don’t act now, we won’t see equality in our lifetime.”
St George’s Head, Carol Chandler-Thompson, said:“Women make up only 22% of the AI workforce, meaning they are being left out of the most influential, high-paying jobs of the future.
“Our Fearless Women in Computing event brings together state and independent schools, companies and innovators. The day is an eye-opener to the world of computing.”
Through hands-on workshops, dynamic demonstrations and real-world role-models, the day underlines that tech careers are for everyone and encourages these young women to step confidently into their future in computing, STEM and tech careers.
With girls and women remaining underrepresented in computing at school and in the industry, Toni Scullion, teacher, campaigner and founder of non-profit charity dressCode, is working with St George’s School in Edinburgh to inspire more girls to see a future for themselves in the tech industry.
The all-girls school is hosting its third annual Fearless Women in Computing event on Tuesday 11 November, an event which is open to all schoolgirls across Edinburgh. The event, which last year attracted 600 girls from 13 schools from four council areas, aims to encourage more girls to pursue computing science in school and in their professional lives.
The day-long event will feature immersive experiences, workshops and stalls in collaboration with more than 20 companies, including The National Robotarium, IBM and The Quantum Software Lab at the University of Edinburgh.
There will be several guest talks on topics, including AI and women in tech, careers in finance and tech and seeing yourself in computing. Skyscanner will sponsor transport for girls from state schools to attend, with priority given to providing the opportunity to pupils from areas of high deprivation.
Scotland needs 13,000 new digital professionals yearly but produces only 5,000, with women making up just 23% of the digital technologies workforce in Scotland, revealing the clear need for more gender diversity within the industry.
The gap begins at school – girls studying Computing Science in Scotland has dropped from almost 10,000 in 2001 to under 2,500 today, giving Computing Science the largest gender gap of any traditional STEM subject.
Toni said:“I founded dressCode after noticing the inequality in Computing Science when I first became a teacher, and while we have made positive progress, there is still a need for urgent action.
“Girls almost always outperform boys in Computing Science through school and university, but as it stands only 23% take the subject at National 5, a percentage that only drops at each level to Advanced Higher.
“The Fearless Women in Computing event is a fantastic initiative. It’s amazing to hear the sounds of high fives and exclamations from the girls when they solve a problem or make something happen.
“Positive experiences are what people remember and this event is incredible for the pupils; you know that these are moments that will stick with them and form their future choices.
“Unfortunately there is no equity of access to Computing Science in Scotland, so not every pupil is fortunate enough to experience Computing Science and decide if it is something they enjoy; the door isn’t just closed, there is no door.
“If we don’t act now, we won’t see equality in our lifetimes – this event isn’t just a step in the right direction, it’s a critical action to ensure girls are the architects of a future designed for all.”
dressCode was founded in 2017 to bridge the gender gap in Computing Science by engaging, inspiring, and raising awareness about the diverse opportunities available in the tech industry.
Carol Chandler-Thompson, Head at St George’s, said: “Women make up only 22% of the AI workforce, meaning they are being left out of the most influential, high-paying jobs of the future.
“We know how important it is to show girls from early in their schooling that there is space for them in AI and technology industries, which is why we made Computing Science a core subject from P5 to S2.
“This summer 80% of our Higher Computing students achieved an A grade– it’s clear that when girls are encouraged to take Computing Science, they thrive.
“Our Fearless Women in Computing event brings together schools, companies and innovators from across Scotland to create a hands-on, inspiring experience for girls across Edinburgh.
“We have seen first-hand the impact these events can have – hearing the stories of women in the industry, seeing the recent advances in robotics and AI, even “hacking Google” – the day is an eye-opener to the world of computing, and we would encourage as many schools as possible to come along.”
100% of girls study Computing Science from P5 to S2 at St George’s, with a focus on building confidence and encouraging participation among pupils.
The school offers community lessons on Friday afternoons, so any girl from an Edinburgh state school can attend and benefit from the facilities and expertise available.
The Fearless Women in Computing event is on 11 November from 9:30am – 3pm at St George’s School, Edinburgh.
It is open to any Edinburgh school girl from P6 to S6.
EXTRA CARE DEVELOPER VIVERE UNVEILS PLANS TO BUILD c200 NEW HOMES IN EDINBURGH OVER NEXT 5 – 7 YEARS TO HELP MEET HOUSING DEMAND
Extra care developer-operator Vivere plans to build a portfolio of extra care communities in and around Edinburgh over the next 5-7 years, providing circa 200 new extra care homes with high-quality on-site amenities and care services.
Starting the portfolio, Vivere has just acquired from St George’s School the 2.2 acre Lansdowne House site on Coltbridge Terrace in Edinburgh, and plans to transform this into the brand’s first community of high quality new extra care homes in the city.
Vivere plan to invest some £25 million in the refurbishment and restoration of the listed buildings on the site and the construction of the new community.
Subject to planning consent, the Lansdowne House scheme will provide a combination of refurbished heritage and newly built homes, alongside spectacular communal lounges and amenities created within the historic main Victorian villa on the site, originally built in 1875 as Coltbridge Hall and was previously owned by a number of notable Edinburgh residents over the years.
It will be the first in a series of extra care projects that Vivere are planning for central Edinburgh.
As part of their expansion plans Vivere are currently looking to acquire other sites in Edinburgh, the Lothians and Fife. The business is looking to purchase sites that can provide between 50 to 80 homes, for either new build, converted properties, or a combination. The sites for review being in established residential addresses, ideally with proximity to local public transport and amenities.
Vivere was formed by a joint venture between Probitas, a specialist in extra care and senior living homes, and Stephenson Group, a leading contractor and mixed-use investor-developer founded in 1962 with offices in Scotland, England and Wales.
Vivere is led by Co-Founding Director Scott Curran, who was born in Edinburgh and is a qualified architect from the School of Art in Edinburgh. Scott has worked in Edinburgh for CDA, PJMP, Balfour Beatty, MACE, and Applecross.
Alongside Scott is Co-Founding Director Beatrix Lehnert, with both directors having over 30 years of expertise in residential, commercial, BtR and PBSA projects, with the past 13 years focused on the assisted living sector.
Vivere business partner and Co-founding Director Martin Stephenson is the Chairman of Stephenson Group which is a market leader in construction and property development with an annual turnover in excess of £100 million (Source: 2024/25 accounts).
To deliver the new communities in Edinburgh Vivere is working with award winning Scottish based architectural practices, planning consultants and landscape consultants.
For the Lansdowne House site in Edinburgh Vivere has appointed award winning Scottish architectural practice CDA Edinburgh, landscape architects Rankinfraser, and Edinburgh based planning and heritage consultants MontaguEvans to help prepare proposals for the new community.
With its award winning professional team, the brand will focus on creating and delivering a portfolio of high-quality extra care living communities designed for where residents can enjoy their life and age in place, supported by appropriate on-site amenities and care services for a healthier life and wellbeing.
This fully aligns with the Scottish Government’s ambition to both raise life expectancy in Scotland and the number of years that people can spend in good health, supported by both suitable properties to live in and the services to assist their needs.
Scott Curran, Co-Founding Director of Vivere says: “It is our aim to create a portfolio of high-quality extra care living communities in Scotland, commencing in Edinburgh. These will be high quality homes, alongside on-site amenities and tailored care services to suit resident’s needs.
“Our aim is for our residents to live longer, not grow old. The provision of extra care communities will help to relieve local pressures on NHS services, as well as providing homes to the hugely undersupplied housing sector in Scotland.”
Martin Stephenson, Chairman of Stephenson Group and Co-founding director of Vivere said: “Scotland, like the rest of the UK, has an overwhelming demand to provide housing with care and services to a large and fast-growing older demographic, but with the key difference for Scotland currently being the huge lack of supply of these tailored homes and services within the housing sector.
“With its development plans Vivere aims to provide a quality product to the market and help to meet the demands in the sector.”
Vivere Co-Founding DirectorBeatrix Lehnert added: “The forming of Vivere represents significant new long-term investment and job creation in the Edinburgh economy.
“Alongside delivering best-in-class extra care schemes, our approach is to partner with Scottish businesses, suppliers and operators who are local leaders in their field to provide the care services and amenities for our new communities.
“This way Vivere will help to create new jobs and investment in Edinburgh alongside the construction jobs generated by the building of our new projects.”
