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Digital Training

Special Edition

Women are under-represented at Board level in the digital/tech sector in Scotland. To address this imbalance, we created Special Edition, a professional development programme that seeks to help ambitious, talented women fulfill their potential and reach the top of the industry.

Running over six months, the programme offers a dynamic mix of professional development training and creative expertise to help boost your confidence, improve your entrepreneurial skills, expand professional networks and progress your career in digital. The initiative includes formal workshops delivered by leading industry trainers PLUS an international field trip to meet with inspiring people making moves in the digital world.

The overall ambition of this programme is to set our female delegates on a career trajectory that ultimately leads to the boardroom. Now in its sixth year of delivery, Special Edition alumni have gone on to great things. Previous delegates have secured secure significant promotions, including to Board level, and started their own businesses.

Training will be delivered through one full-day training session per month over a period of six months. We work with leading trainers and respected industry professionals who have collaborated with TRC over several years and receive consistently excellent feedback from our delegates. Session topics for 2019/20 are yet to be tied down but will include highly rated training sessions from previous Special Edition programmes. Below are some examples of the training sessions to expect, along with feedback from previous delegates. 

    • Personal Branding and goal setting: Assess yourself as a brand, develop goals for the future and commit to a definitive plan of action
      “I can only describe my experience on the day as a complete and utter epiphany. I can confidently say, after only one day, that this course is going to be life-changing for me.”
    • Work-Life Balance: Strategies for achieving a successful work/life balance.
      “I learned things about myself I will use to bring my life into balance and hopefully be a more effective, happier person in my work and home life.”
    • Dealing with difficult conversations:  Advice and useful tips mixed with practical exercises to hone and perfect your communication skills for a range of challenging scenarios. 
      “I will use the techniques I learned with immediate effect. I’m dealing with a difficult relationship in the workplace, and I now have a clear strategy to engage in the challenging conversations which need to happen for any improvements to happen.”
    • Networking and pitching with confidence: A practical session that will take you out of your comfort zone in order to achieve real results in presenting with confidence.                                                                 “I’ve always been a bit nervous about introducing myself to strangers, but when you are developing a business it’s such an important skill to have. The session will directly impact how I get my business out there and make contacts, meet clients and pitch myself”. 
    • Creative Problem Solving: Using a powerful and persuasive shared questioning approach, the group will work  to achieve the life and career goals identified in earlier sessions.
      “[The trainer] very skillfully took us through a process that changed my whole perception of listening, communication and responding to people. After the training day I felt truly empowered to take my career forward in ways I hadn't previously thought possible.”
    • Leadership: Identifying the kind of leader you are, and how best to use your skills for leading a successful team. "The session completely demystified the concept of a leader. It equipped me with a hugely practical set of leadership skills and toolsets which will allow me to lead a team with confidence." 

Special Edition is open to women working in commercial businesses in the digital sector in Scotland. For guidance, this includes but is not limited to: digital agencies, software development, games, animation, mobile apps, augmented/virtual reality and technology.

We welcome applications from ambitious female candidates* who will use this exceptional opportunity to progress their professional careers. Applicants should have:

  • Evidence of experience within their field
  • Experience in management: leading teams or projects
  • Aspirations to reach Director/Board level or to run their own business
  • Clearly articulated reasons for wanting to invest in their professional development
  • A current passport valid for European travel to end of March 2020

*Special Edition is open to all women (trans, intersex and cis) and all nonbinary, agender and gender variant people. Self-definition is at the sole discretion of that individual.

The Special Edition 2019/20 dates

Wednesday 4th September 2019: Inspire/ Empower Me

Thursday 3rd October 2019: Difficult Conversations/pitching  

Thursday 7th November 2019: Work/Life balance

Thursday 5th December 2019: Action Learning Sets

Wednesday 15th January 2020: Leadership

Business trip: Location and February dates TBC

Who are TRC?

For over 20 years, TRC has delivered high-end training for individuals and businesses working in the broadcast and digital sectors. Through TRC training, careers have been transformed, new start-ups established, international business secured, skill shortages tackled, business strategies re-framed and invaluable networks formed. TRC’s reputation as one of the UK’s leading training providers has allowed them to provide unrivalled access to the world’s most innovative companies including tech leaders in San Francisco and broadcasters from London to New York and Los Angeles. 
Find out more about TRC.

What is Special Edition?

Special Edition is a professional development programme for ambitious women working in Scotland’s digital and tech industries who are committed to furthering their careers within the sector. Running over a period of six months, Special Edition arms ambitious and talented women with the knowledge, skills and network to realise their full potential.

Special Edition was devised in direct response to the gender imbalance in Scotland’s digital sector. Statistics consistently show that women are under-represented at board level and senior positions within Scottish businesses. In Scotland’s Digital Technology sector, women make up only 18% of the workforce, which is considerably lower than other skilled occupations (39%) and the country’s workforce as a whole (48%) (source). The figures are more skewed when we look to positions of power: 100% of CEOs of Scotland’s 50 ‘top companies’ (as identified by Scottish Business Insider) are men (source). We believe that gender equality in the boardroom is paramount to the wider diversity of Scotland’s digital sector and so the overall ambition of this programme is to set our female delegates on a career trajectory that ultimately leads to the boardroom. Special Edition has been running since 2013 and has seen alumni go on to successfully start their own businesses and secure significant job promotions, salary increases and board positions.

How much does the programme cost?

Special Edition is heavily subsidised by our programme funders: Scottish Enterprise, BBC Nations and Regions, Channel 4 and Screen Scotland. The delegate fee is £395. 

Due to the public sector investment in this project, we are obliged to let you know that under EC Commission Regulations* your participation in Special Edition is de minimis aid amounting to £2,768 There is a ceiling of €200,000 for all de minimis aid provided to any one company over a 3 year period.  The support will be relevant if your company wishes to apply, or has applied, for any other public sector support i.e. de minimis aid.

Can I apply if I work for a charity?

No. Applications are only open to those working within commercial businesses.

Should I apply if I have already applied previously?

Yes! Special Edition is a competitive application process, and there could be many reasons why the course wasn't right for you the first time around. We welcome and encourage applications from women who have previously applied for the course. 

What are you looking for in applications?

We recommend that you take your time with your application and really consider how this programme will benefit you and your career. You should outline your goals and ambitions, and also identify areas for improvement/barriers/personal challenges that the course could help you with. Be as honest as possible in your application and don't worry about presenting yourself as the 'finished package.' 

How long is the programme?

Special Edition lasts six months – beginning in September 2019 and wrapping in February 2020. To take part in the programme it is imperative that you commit to full participation, which means attendance for all of the full-day training sessions (dates above) and for the duration of the trip.

Where will we travel with the business trip?

Previous Special Edition delegates have travelled to London, Berlin and Amsterdam to meet with inspirational leaders and entrepreneurs doing exciting things in the world of digital, from global names to innovative start-ups. The destination of this year’s programme is to be announced – keep your eyes peeled! You can read about last year's trip over on our blog.

What is covered in the trip?

TRC will cover the cost of flights and hotels during the field trip as well as travel between meetings on the itinerary. You are required to have adequate travel insurance and hold a current and valid passport for the field trip. If for any reason you cancel your participation on the trip, you are liable for the cost of travel (plane/train) and accommodation. You are required to cover your own expenses which will include travel to/from airport/train station and for meals/drinks/expenses on the trip.

Where does the training take place?

All training will take place in Glasgow City Centre, usually at TRC’s offices in Clockwise, 77 Renfrew Street Glasgow.

What if I have more questions?

No problem. Get in touch with the programme project manager Caroline McGonigle on 0141 223 8820, or via email at caroline.mcgonigle@trcmedia.org.

Applications closed

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BIMA Awards Finalist - July 2019

Special Edition is a finalist for the BIMA Advance Award for Talent/Diversity Initiative of the Year. Find out more

 

The 2019/20 delegates

Carolyn Barbour

Senior Xamarin Developer

Boundary Technologies

Liah Moss

Senior Designer

Whitespace

Kirstin Watson

Head of Strategy & Creative

Innovation Digital

Rachel Ward

Senior Designer

After Digital

Suzanne Bennett

Account Director

Frame

Victoria McFadyen

Senior Content Manager

Bright Signals 

Victoria Shepherd

Head of Content & Communications

Care Sourcer

Kirsty Burns

Digital Account Director

Dog Digital

Get ready for your confidence to soar, your networks to broaden, to learn you can do things you never even dreamed of! That’s the Special Edition experience.

Anne Grieve, AmazeRealise

Previous delegates had told me Special Edition was ‘life-changing’.
I wondered how one course could really impact a life in such a big
way. And it wasn’t until closer to the end that I saw how much it’s
changed mine. I wish every woman in digital across Scotland could
go on Special Edition and realise their dreams too.

Laura Thomson, Cause & Effect

Special Edition made me realise it was ok to be an ambitious, career-driven woman with a want to a succeed. We all entered the course with a touch of imposter syndrome but left confident and focused on our future.

Stephanie Lindsay, Dog

I would say that Special Edition changed me but in fact it didn’t – it amplified me. I came out more ME that I have ever been – a more focused and courageous version of myself. My ambition grew, my self-belief grew and my determination grew. I have realised that I went in with all of these things but Special Edition empowered me and gave me the courage to accept my ambition - and own it!

Sarah Johnson, IndigoLeap

A life changing experience that has given me a new perspective on how to approach business and my own personal life.

Romana Ramzan

Taking time out of your business is really hard to do, but that one day a month at TRC is some of the best time I've spent. I have a renewed confidence, I feel focused, in control and excited about the future.

Kaye Symington, Paved With Gold

"Special edition gave me the skills I needed to step up to seize the opportunity to step up to Head of Engineering. Without the skills I learned and what they lead to, I would likely not even have realized the opportunity was there."

Ceri Shaw

Special Edition Alumni

Leigh Dobson

Client Services Director

Signal

Anne Grieve

Associate Creative Director

AmazeRealise

Alanna Innes

Product Owner

XDesign

Justine Leahy

Head of Production

ISO Design

Serina MacDonald

Associate Director of Data & Analytics

IProspect Edinburgh

Laura Thomson

Strategy and Communications Director

Cause + Effect

Iris Winter

Senior Developer

Wyoming Interactive

Kari Yoshime

Senior Designer

LEWIS

Ceri Shaw

Engineering Lead

Prudential

Laura McHard

Creative Technologist

Frame

Claire McGarry

Managing Director

Wireframe Immersive

Helen Reid

Marcomms Strategist

Dog

Joanna Jakubowska

Senior UI Artist

Creative Assembly

Lynsey Briston

Customer Success Lead

Sustainably 

Searra Dodds

UX/UI Designer

Seawolf Graphics

Terresa Aitken

Project Delivery Director

Signal

Sarah Johnson

Director

Indigo Leap

Laura Boyle

Lead Analytics & Insights Manager

Dog 

Kaye Symington

Co-Founder

Paved with Gold

Danae Shell

Co-Founder and CEO

Valla

Claire Wood

Associate Planner

Leith

Vuokko Aro

Design Director

Monzo

Llara Geddes

Head of UX

User Conversion

Cassie Anderson

Account Manager 

MD Consulting

Lauren McKellan

Senior 3D Artist

Rivet Games

Alex Durussel-Baker

Product and Service Design Consultant

Stephanie Lindsay

Director of Delivery & Marketing

Dog

Lynn Banks

Director of Production 

Screenmedia

Louisa Gallie

Chief Creative Officer

Hunted Cow Studios

Laura Weatherhead

Full-stack .NET Developer

Spun

Kirsten Murray

Freelance art director, designer, and copywriter

Jen Thomson

UX and Digital Product Designer

Audrey Mason

Founder and CEO

Mantra

Romana Ramzan

Game Design Lecturer

Glasgow Caledonian University

Yolander Yeo

Designer, Director

VS + YO

Mhairi Towler

Founder and CEO

Vivomotion

Rebecca Thompson

Business Development Manager

Film City Futures

Darcie Tanner

Founder

Darcie Digital Co

Leanne Anderson

Performance Advisor

Inspiring Scotland 

Frances Irvine

Head of Client Services

Whitespace

Cat Leaver

Director

Brand Scotland

Kate Bordwell

Creative Lead, Open Experience

RBS