The Foundations of Borders Tech Connect
How SOSE, Borders College and CodeBase/Techscaler are working together to build something new.
Borders Tech Connect isn’t just a name — it’s a growing network that brings together students, businesses, educators and tech facilitators across the Scottish Borders. At its core, it’s about collaboration. Local collaboration. Practical collaboration.
Behind this initiative are three organisations that believe that access to digital skills and tools can transform what’s possible for learners, employers, and communities. We asked each of our founding partners to share what this project means to them and why they’ve chosen to support the Tech Connect system.
South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE): Michael Gardiner, Digital Development Specialist
At SOSE, we're here to help drive long-term economic prosperity across the South of Scotland. When it comes to digital, that means making sure local businesses don’t just survive – they thrive in an increasingly digital world.
Borders Tech Connect gives us a new and exciting way to bring our community together - businesses with opportunities, students with the skills to realise these opportunities, and facilitators who bridge the gap between the two. It's more than just sharing knowledge; it’s about building practical tools, achieving real outcomes, and finding better ways of working together.
We know that traditional tech events can sometimes feel distant or out of reach, especially for organisations in rural areas. Borders Tech Connect is different—it's a welcoming space to share your expertise, ask questions, test ideas, and learn alongside others in the community.
At SOSE, we see this as part of something bigger—a way to support innovation across key sectors with accessible technology and open collaboration. But most of all, we see Borders Tech Connect as the first step towards a vibrant tech ecosystem in the Scottish Borders.
Borders College: Dale Clancy, Head of Sector (Creative, Enterprise, Technology and Future Skills)
This is about providing students the platform to apply what they’re learning in real-world settings — while building the confidence, communication and practical skills employers are looking for.
The Borders Tech Connect workshops give our learners a chance to work directly with local businesses on real problems. They learn to think creatively, collaborate in teams, and deliver useful solutions using modern tools.
It’s a learning experience grounded in purpose. Students aren’t just completing assignments — they’re contributing to their local economy and building relationships that could shape their careers.
It also gives the College a visible, evolving role in regional innovation. These events let us align our teaching with real business needs and help bridge the gap between education and employment in a way that’s dynamic and immediate.
CodeBase & Techscaler: Sarah-Jane Burns, Head of South of Scotland - Regional Engagement
CodeBase has always been a community-driven organisation, and we want technology to be as accessible as possible to create a diverse tech ecosystem in Scotland. Whether you have a process to streamline, a challenge to solve or just curious about technology, our community and networks are here for you.
Borders Tech Connect is exactly the kind of regional initiative we love to support — hands-on, inclusive, and grounded in action. Our focus here is on helping people explore technology in an informal way to explore what's possible, and no-code and low-code platforms are a great, affordable way to prototype, test, and improve systems.
We have the support of the Techscaler programme — which opens up pathways into entrepreneurship and connects participants with Scotland’s wider tech ecosystem. Whether someone’s exploring tech entrepreneurship for the first time or planning a product for market, we can help them get there.
For us, it’s about making innovation accessible and visible in places that are too often overlooked.
Looking Ahead
Together, SOSE, Borders College and CodeBase are building something that will last — a working system where ideas and tools move between education and industry in a meaningful way.
With regular meetups and structured workshops, we’re building a platform that supports both personal development and business growth. It’s about real outcomes: better workflows, useful prototypes, new skills, and stronger networks across the region.
We hope you’ll join us. Whether you’re a student, an employer, a freelancer or simply curious — Borders Tech Connect is open to you.
Let’s build something together.
