Geospatial – Location Data

Business Minister supports geospatial training at Fife College

Business Minister supports geospatial training at Fife College

June 2025

Fife College's Geospatial Foundation Skills course plays a key role in reducing the skills shortage in Scotland's geospatial sector

Business Minister Richard Lochhead MSP visited Fife College recently to learn how the College has delivered the UK’s first geospatial qualification in a College.

The new Geospatial Foundation Skills course, which started in February 2025, provides an 18-week introduction to GIS and Earth Observation, emphasising core skills and with each student undertaking a practical project with industry. The course came into being as a collaboration between the College, the Association for Geographic Information (AGI) in Scotland, Location Data Scotland (LDS) and the University of Edinburgh with support from the Scottish Government’s Geographic Information Science and Analysis Team. Research undertaken by Location Data Scotland and AGI Scotland identified a skills shortage, particularly in relation to technician-level roles and this course was developed as a response, ensuring Scotland continues to be a prime destination for geospatial business.

The Minister was welcomed to the College’s new Dunfermline City Campus which will open later in the year; the future home of innovative programmes such as the Geospatial Foundation Programme. The course will be credit rated this month as a recognised qualification on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework at SCQF level 6.

In a recent LinkedIn post, Business Minister Richard Lochhead said:

“Our brilliant colleges are embracing Scotland’s innovation mission, and they must be at the heart of our ambition to become a leading innovation nation. The sector’s growing focus on innovation is illustrated by the vision behind the spectacular new Fife College campus that will soon open and that I had the privilege of visiting. There will be an innovation space in the new college but learners are already benefiting.

I was inspired to learn about the Geospatial Foundation Skills Course as part of the geospatial roadmap and the work withLocation Data Scotland with funding from UK Space Agency also involving Bayes Centre. The college’s programme is the first of its kind and so important for the skills pipeline for 21st century Scotland!”

Bruce Gittings, Chair of AGI Scotland and Senior Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, said:

“This is a remarkable collaboration which will bring new talent into the geospatial workforce in Scotland, supporting existing organisations, allowing new businesses to develop and promoting inward investment.

The Scottish Government created Location Data Scotland to grow our geospatial sector, and this has been part of a significant work-package that will underpin future success.

This course is entirely complementary to what is offered at university-level and therefore brings greater diversity into our industry and the opportunity for progression. We have seen that it can attract school-leavers to this new course, as well as those with interesting backgrounds and experiences coming back into employment or seeking a career-change.

We are already exploring how AGI and LDS can develop their collaboration with Fife in the future.”

Jim Metcalfe, Principal of Fife College, said:

“We were delighted to welcome the Business Minister to our new Dunfermline City Campus and share the exciting work underway across a range of future-focused subject areas. Our programmes in fields such as geospatial technology are designed to meet the skills needs of Scotland’s economy – both now and in the future.

At Fife College, we are committed to being an accelerator for jobs and opportunity, aligning skills with economic demand, and this new campus is at the heart of that mission.”

Next Steps

If your organisation is interested in tapping into new geospatial talent and can offer work experience or employment to students graduating from Fife College this summer, please contact Lauren Miller (laurenmiller@fife.ac.uk) to get involved.

Unlocking Innovation, Skills, and Sustainability for Scotland’s geospatial sector

March 2024

Exploring the opportunities and outlook for Scotland’s geospatial sector through the lens of Location Data Scotland

As the Location Data Scotland programme enters its fifth year, Scotland is poised to harness a wave of geospatial innovation powered by AI, remote sensing, and a growing talent pipeline. From public sector data initiatives to academic-industry partnerships, the nation is aligning its assets to address pressing challenges like climate change, skills shortages, and energy transition. Featuring insights from key figures across government, academia, and industry, this article explores the opportunities and outlook for Scotland’s geospatial sector in the year ahead. With flagship events like State of the Map in Dundee and pioneering programmes like Fife College’s Geospatial Foundation Skills course, 2025 is poised to be a landmark year for positioning Scotland as a global leader in spatial data and climate-driven innovation.

Alan Corbett, Head of Geospatial at Scottish Government:

“The Scottish Government has made strategic investments in high-resolution remote sensing datasets, including nationwide LiDAR and Planet satellite imagery. These datasets are now being made available to public and private sector organisations across key industries such as renewable energy, infrastructure planning, precision agriculture, and housing development. Our goal is to unlock their full potential by enabling advanced machine learning and AI-driven analytics that can support smarter, faster, and more data-informed decision making across Scotland.”

Damien Griffith, Community Risk Manager, Scottish Fire & Rescue Service:

“We’re facing a persistent skills shortage in geospatial disciplines, particularly in roles requiring deep technical expertise. However, the growing use of AI in geospatial processes, such as automating hazard mapping, routing analysis, and spatial risk modelling, has the potential to ease the burden on under-resourced teams. This shift will allow us to deliver life-saving projects more efficiently, while reserving expert time for critical decision-making.”

Ashley Stewart, Director at Optimat, and Delivery Lead for Location Data Scotland:

“The Geospatial Foundation Skills Programme, delivered in partnership with Fife College, represents a transformative step for the sector. It’s not just about teaching GIS software or how to capture spatial data, it’s about cultivating a new generation of thinkers who understand spatial relationships and can apply that thinking across industries. Graduates come away with hands-on skills in tools like ArcGIS and remote sensing platforms, but more importantly, they bring real-world readiness and a drive to contribute immediately to Scotland’s geospatial ecosystem. This approach directly addresses the talent pipeline challenge we’re seeing across the sector.”

Rob Dunfey, Geomatics Manager at Shell:

“Geospatial data is now central to how we approach energy transition challenges in the North Sea. We’re using location intelligence to balance and coordinate the siting of carbon storage facilities, hydrogen projects, offshore wind farms, and existing oil and gas operations. Thanks to the North Sea Transition Authority’s (NSTA) release of over a petabyte of open-access geoscience and engineering data, much of it spatially enabled, we have the information infrastructure needed to make evidence-based decisions at scale. Initiatives like State of the Map in Dundee this November and the new Space Hub at the Bayes Centre are evidence that Scotland is becoming a nucleus for global geospatial collaboration.”

Zoë Russell, Founder and Director, Rethink Carbon:

“Over the next year, we’ll see geospatial data play a bigger role in tackling climate and nature challenges. Advances in satellite imagery, remote sensing, and AI modelling are making it easier to monitor land use change in near real time. These tools are essential for developing robust carbon markets and measuring nature restoration outcomes with precision.

Scotland’s mix of academic expertise, public investment and a growing nature tech sector gives us a unique opportunity to be a global leader on this front. But to succeed we need to invest in data interoperability, strengthen partnerships between industry and academia, and enable open access to high quality spatial data.”

Bruce Gittings, Senior Lecturer, University of Edinburgh & Chair, AGI Scotland:

“The availability of new types of remote sensing data, whether from satellite constellations or aerial platforms, is opening up powerful new applications across sectors. However, I’m concerned about the UK’s long-term access to global datasets, particularly those maintained by US agencies. Scotland has the potential to become a globally recognised hub for spatial data infrastructure and research, but to get there, we need to ensure continued investment in national data assets and policies that secure access to international data streams.”

As Scotland looks to the future, the convergence of technological innovation, data accessibility, and a renewed focus on skills development creates a powerful foundation for growth in the geospatial sector. The collective ambition of government, academia, and industry stakeholders is clear; to not only harness the benefits of spatial data for domestic priorities but to position Scotland as a globally recognised leader in geospatial excellence. With continued investment, open collaboration, and a bold vision for climate and digital transformation, Scotland is not just adapting to a geospatial future, it is actively shaping it.

The Power of Location Data: Unlocking Scotland’s Potential

March 2024

Working together to foster innovation, develop talent, and drive economic growth.

Scotland boasts a vibrant geospatial sector. Innovation is happening across the country, but benefits are not being fully realised. The sector is siloed and faces a shortage of skilled workers. To harness the full potential of location data, we must work together to foster innovation, develop talent, and drive economic growth.

Unlocking the Value of Public Sector Data

The UK and Scottish Governments are committed to making public sector data more accessible (where licensing permits) , thus fostering innovation, and stimulating economic growth. Initiatives like CivTech® demonstrate the power of collaboration between the public, private, and third sectors. By sharing data and working together, we can develop innovative solutions to real-world problems.

Building a Thriving Geospatial Ecosystem

Location Data Scotland (LDS) is at the forefront of driving innovation and growth in Scotland’s geospatial sector. By fostering a thriving ecosystem of businesses, organisations, and individuals, LDS is helping to raise awareness of the benefits of location data, sustainability and investment with the aim of achieving economic growth for Scotland. These companies are all included in the recently launched LDS Directory.

Collaborative Partnerships for Success

Collaborative procurement and project partnerships are essential for maximising the impact of location data. By sharing resources and expertise, we can reduce costs, improve efficiency, and accelerate innovation. There are already several collective agreements in place for spatial data, including the Public Sector Geospatial Agreement (PSGA) which public sector organisations can access Ordnance Survey (OS) location data and services, Royal Mail Public Sector Licence and Aerial Photography Great Britain (APGB). Significant savings are being generated through adopting a collaborative approach to procuring national datasets with an estimated 20% saving.

Addressing the Skills Gap

As the demand for geospatial expertise grows, it is imperative to develop a skilled workforce. The Scottish Government and industry partners are investing in training programs and initiatives to equip individuals with the skills needed to succeed in the geospatial sector. The Geospatial Foundation Skills Programme, which is being delivered by Fife College, is the first of these initiatives. It is a 6-week course starting in Feb 2025 to provide an introductory foundation to a geospatial role. Places on this course are still available. More information can be found on the Fife College website.

By embracing the power of location data, Scotland can position itself as a global leader in innovation, sustainability, and economic growth. By working together, we can unlock the full potential of this valuable resource and build a more prosperous future for all. If you are looking for an innovative organisation working in the geospatial sector in Scotland, search the LDS Directory by type, capabilities or sector.

Pictures from the LDS Directory launch event at Geovation Scotland’s hub below ⬇️

Launching in November: New Geospatial Skills Programme to Boost Scotland’s Space and Geospatial Sector

March 2024

LDS is a key partner in developing this new geospatial skills programme.

Location Data Scotland (LDS) is a key partner in the Space Bridges Facilitating Future Space Careers training programme, which includes the highly anticipated Geospatial Foundational Skills Programme, set to launch in November, funded by the UK Space Agency.

The Geospatial Foundational Skills Programme, delivered by Fife College, will be the first of its kind in colleges in the UK. The aim is to provide foundation skills in understanding geospatial systems and their application in a range of industries. Students who complete the course will have skills suitable for entry level positions within the geospatial and space sector, brining fresh talent to this fast-growing field.

The programme consists of six learning modules with a focus on the workplace experience:

Introduction to Geospatial Systems, Data types, Monitoring, Cartography and Data Visualisation
Introduction to GIS, Geospatial Data and Disciplines
Remote Sensing, Earth Observation (EO) & Satellite Observation Technology
Completing a Geospatial Project – planning, execution and reporting
Multi Sector Geo-Applications by Industry Sector; their Management & Impact
Industry Applications, Soft Skills and Employability in the Space and Geospatial Industry.

Head of Geospatial at Scottish Government Alan Corbett said, “This funding has been instrumental in helping shape and deliver this ambitious skills programme. The space sector is worth £18.9bn* to the UK economy and employs over 52,000 people, with Scotland a leading employer in the sector. We need to ensure we are attracting and retaining good talent to be able to encourage more inward investment into Scotland and encourage more Scottish businesses to capitalise on opportunities as the space sector grows.”

LDS with its strong industry and public sector network, will help to secure projects and placements for participants, ensuring hands-on experience and smoother entry into industry.

To find out more about the programme visit:

https://www.fife.ac.uk/courses/subject-areas/space-industry-courses/?tagged=7137_7099&hideAlpha=true

If you have a project or a placement that might be suitable for this programme, please complete your details here and one of our team will be in touch with further details.

*Size and Health of the UK Space Industry 2023

From Space to Climate Change geospatial data enables to see the see the world in a different way

March 2024

Geospatial data is essential across many sectors from whale watching to local neighbourhoods.

Geospatial is an important element of any location. It involves the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data linked to a geographic location such as

Maps and charts
Satellite imagery
GPS data
GIS data

At the event, Geospatial Insights 2024; Innovations and Applications across Sectors held in the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute on Tuesday 27^th August, hosted by Location Data Scotland in partnership with AGI Scotland, we heard from a wide range of speakers from various organisations about how geospatial data and technologies are being used in their organisations to deliver products and services.

Technology is evolving further and with applications such as AI and Machine Learning we can analyse locations even further. Scotland’s strong research base, government support, industry partnerships, and expertise in geospatial technology have made it a thriving hub for satellite and space activities.

Alan Moore from Idox said, “Geospatial data is now being discussed in the Boardroom. This emphasises the importance of this data source in supporting decision making and helps organisations regulate and monitor their environmental impact”.

The speakers explored the importance of geospatial data across a range of sectors from land management systems through to road safety, whale watching, climate change and local neighbourhoods.

This event was delivered as part of the Data Lab Community’s Geospatial Fringe series.

Steven Thomson, Events and Community Manager at the Data Lab said, “It has been fantastic to see the range and breadth of work going in Scotland and beyond within geospatial. Throughout the last month we’ve heard from organisations working to improve road safety, right through to environmentalism and climate change. The potential for geospatial data to improve where we live, and work is immense and is only going to get more exciting.”

Slides and case examples from the presentations can be viewed below

- Alan Moore, Geospatial Product Director – Idox

Make sure your organisation benefits from being part of the geospatial community in Scotland by joining our Directory. Sign up here.

Everything you need to know about Innovation, Collaboration and Funding

September 2022

Innovation is the process of taking new ideas and research to market. It drives productivity, exports and economic growth and helps solve societal challenges.

In our recent webinar Innovate UK, Scottish Enterprise and ESA (European Space Agency) joined Location Data Scotland to explore opportunities around innovation, collaboration and funding.

Innovate UK funding and support

Innovate UK is the UK’s innovation agency, enabling business led and collaborative innovation in all sectors, technologies and UK geographic regions. The Innovate UK group offers a range of specialist support for innovative businesses:

Innovate UK	Innovate UK KTN	Innovate UK Edge	Catapults
Funding and support for innovation projects	Connections to new partners and opportunities	Support for growing innovative businesses	Specialist facilities and experts in technology areas

Carol Sunderland who works in the Artificial Intelligence and Data Economy (AIDE) Team discussed how Innovate UK has supported a range of geospatial innovation projects – both from a geospatial data generation and application perspective in a number of different sectors including agriculture, maritime, port logistics, construction, infrastructure and rail, by way of example. It was further explained that geospatial funding opportunities also lie in some cross-sector and international programmes.

ESA Funding and Support

We also heard from Ken Gordon, the UK business ambassador at ESA Space Solutions who are the largest space innovation network in the world. ESA support start-ups and SMEs to grow their business through zero equity funding, technology and commercial guidance, support from a personalised consultant and access to a network of partners. Companies can apply for ESA funding (open calls or kickstart activities) as long as they use one space asset – for example, earth observation, space weather, satellite navigation, satellite communication or human spaceflight technology.

Scottish Enterprise Funding and Support

Tracey Ward introduced the innovation, collaboration and funding team at Scottish Enterprise. Scottish Enterprise help ambitious companies who are seeking innovation funding from a variety of sources. Scottish Enterprise work typically, but not exclusively, with SMEs (10-250 employees) who are:

Market-orientated innovation and/or R&D projects

Can evidence a market (have customers who are willing to pay)

Are confident that they will be able to match-fund at least 30% of the project costs

Are willing to share their results

Our webinar speakers shared their top tips for preparing and submitting a funding application:

Ensure there is a fit with the funding call in question (including the technology readiness level (TRL), does your organisation fit the criteria, does your idea match the themes of the funding?).
Ensure your innovation is central to your application.
Solve a problem worth solving and make sure you include external validation of the problem.
Ensure you answer the IP (intellectual property) question fully.
Convey the business case within your application and demonstrate your market knowledge and the opportunity. Clearly articulate your specific knowledge of the market you are addressing your proposition and where you are positioned within the value chain.
For ESA applications understand how you will use the space assets you will be using.
Don’t generalise; ie don’t say ‘we are the only people doing this’ unless you can prove it! Demonstrate where you fit against the competition.
If your project requires partners, find your partners as early as possible. Seek support from the networks – Location Data Scotland, Innovate UK KTN and Scottish Enterprise. Individuals such as Luca Bodello from Innovate UK KTN can help provide geospatial connections.
Demonstrate your knowledge of the market opportunity. For ESA applications this needs to be from a UK/European perspective.
Don’t underestimate the time needed to complete an application. Ensure you submit it in plenty of time – on some platforms you can add draft versions of documents – upload as you go along so you have evidence if problems arise. Draft – Review – Redraft – Proof Read – Check – Submit
As Innovate UK is awarded via a competition model, look out for relevant competitions and answer the questions clearly.
Ensure you have the capacity to deliver the project.
Co-funding can NOT be other sources of public money.

If you missed our webinar, or just want to refresh your memory, links to the event recording and resources are available below.

Location Data Scotland can help your business access the right funding sources and support to help grow your business. If you wish to access this support, or the support discussed during the webinar, use the links below.

EVENT RECORDING

EVENT PRESENTATIONS

SCOTTISH ENTERPRISE FUNDING

ESA SPACE SOLUTIONS FUNDING

INNOVATE UK FUNDING FINDER

DIRECTORY SIGN UP

FUNDING RESOURCES

So, what do we really mean by Innovation in Geospatial?

September 2022

Collaboration in Key!

30 August 2022 saw Location Data Scotland and Geovation Scotland join forces to run an event at the Registers of Scotland’s building in Edinburgh to explore the topic of innovation in geospatial with industry, public sector and academia.

A range of speakers and panellists from the Geospatial Commission, Registers of Scotland and industry joined Ashley Stewart, lead for Location Data Scotland and Lyndsey Dougan head of Geovation Scotland, to explore what we really mean by innovation in geospatial.

Innovation is Problem x Execution = Solution

Lyndsey explained that Geovation Scotland deliver a hugely successful accelerator programme targeting companies in Scotland working in the geospatial sector and they feel collaboration is the number one ingredient to make innovation happen. It’s not just about having an idea or creating new technology – it’s about creating value and having the support infrastructure in place to make it happen!

We also heard from Douglas McNeil from SME Eolas Insight who have an innovative solution tackling the impact on the environmental sector using location data. Doug said “In our experience, we can see there is lots of geospatial technology impacting the environmental sector and these technologies are making service development easier, enabling SMEs to punch above their weight. These technologies can help inform us to support our efforts towards biodiversity net gain and help us on our journey towards net zero.”

Tourism business Electrek Explorer introduced their innovative app which supports the green traveller to find new experiences when they are out and about, providing information about e-bike and EV routes, charging points, nature sites, EV accommodation, bike friendly accommodation, electric bike charging cafes, local businesses and activity providers.Eilidh Smyth from Electrek Explorer said, “Innovation is nothing without the support of the wider ecosystem. We had fantastic support from Location Data Scotland and Geovation Scotland to help raise our profile, challenge our business model and make cross-sector collaborations which has really helped us scale and grow.”

In terms of innovation, areas such as climate change and sustainability, transport, utilities and insurance are evolving, however sectors such as the emergency services are way behind! The key challenge in driving innovation is scalability. There are lots of great things happening across Scotland but questions remain around how we as a nation can help develop new skills and technologies and commercialise these, to drive more innovation. We also need to consider data democratisation – how do we get the right data to the right people in the right way at the right time? And what about data standards – are they interoperable, are they based on fair principles? Now is the time to create national standards that tie it all together.

Scotland has an amazing opportunity to drive innovation. We are a small nation with lots of opportunity to scale. Scotland is the perfect location for a test bed as we have scalable datasets and can lead by example. But we need to work together rather than working in silos!

As a starting point, we encourage you to join Location Data Scotland’s community to help you find collaboration partners and stop trying to figure this out on your own!

Relevant Funding, Events and Reports referred to during the event:

Location Data Scotland : Innovation and Collaboration Webinar – 28th September 2022

SAVE THE DATE: Geovation Showcase 20th October

Geovation Scotland Accelerator Open Call

Applying Space Data to the Net Zero Economy

Agri Challenge – Can your organisation help to accurately measure biomass and natural capital using space data?

Other Funding Opportunities

Geospatial Commission Annual Plan 2022/2023

Building public confidence in location data: The ABC of ethical use

View Event Presentations