Scottish tech firms, recruiters and not-for-profits have rallied around staff and students of CodeClan following its sudden and unexpected collapse.
The Edinburgh-based digital skills academy – which had supplied 1,000s of graduates to local tech firms and employers – was abruptly liquidated today, with all staff made redundant.
“It is with extremely heavy hearts that we announce that CodeClan has gone into liquidation and will cease all operations as of 4 August 2023,” the firm stated on its website.
“Sadly, that means all our staff have been made redundant and will no longer represent CodeClan.”
‘One of the most important drivers of Scottish tech industry’
Founded in 2015, CodeClan claimed its immersive courses and employer partner programme provide job opportunities for around 400 graduates every year.
According to its latest accounts filed on Companies House, it employed around 50 staff.
Its abrupt collapse was branded “a huge blow to the growth of Scottish technology businesses and the ecosystem as a whole” by one recruiter who expressed his condolences on LinkedIn, with another onlooker remarking that it has been “one of the most important drivers of the tech industry in Scotland for almost a decade”.
Fellow non-for-profit The Scottish Tech Army was among those reaching out to those affected this evening.
“We have collaborated with many of the team and we have had hundreds of their graduates join us as volunteers,” it said.
“Individually and collectively they have made a huge contribution to our work and had a positive effect on the lives of a great many others as a result.”
The CEO of Edinburgh-based digital transformation specialist ClearSky Logic, Darren Auld, extended a similar offer of help.
“Over the years ClearSky Logic have hired many graduates of codeclan, with many of them now in senior positions years later with us,” he said.
“We are fortunate at ClearSky Logic to be growing rapidly and would welcome applicants from CodeClan staff and students.”
Craig Morrison and Scott Milne of Quantuma Advisory Limited were appointed joint provisional liquidators of the CodeClan Limited on 4 August 2023, CodeClan stated.