Gloucestershire College has announced the appointment of Dan Smale as Director of Digitech, marking a significant milestone in the delivery of its Technical Excellence College (TEC) programme in Digital and Technologies.

Gloucestershire College has announced the appointment of Dan Smale as Director of DigiTech, as the College builds on its reputation as one of only five Technical Excellence Colleges (TECs) in the UK specialising in Digital and Technologies. Secured in April 2026 with backing from £175 million in Government funding, the TEC programme aims to equip learners across the UK with the high-level technical skills needed to access well-paid, high-skilled careers in one of Britain’s fastest-growing industries.

With more than 20 years’ experience spanning central government, higher education and the private sector, Dan brings extensive cross-sector expertise in technology leadership, digital transformation and operational delivery. He began his career as a Civil Servant in Cheltenham, progressing from software engineering into operational leadership roles supporting missions across the UK and internationally. During this time, he held responsibility for service ownership and accountability, while collaborating with government departments and international partners.

Dan later moved into higher education as Head of IT at the University of Gloucestershire, where he led the IT team with responsibility for infrastructure, business systems, service desk operations and data. He was instrumental in delivering the University’s IT strategy and supporting the institution to become one of the first universities in the UK to achieve Cyber Essentials Plus certification. More recently, at Fasthosts, Dan led external partnerships, campaigns and community initiatives, while also overseeing the relocation of the company’s UK headquarters to the highly anticipated Forum in Gloucester city centre.

Dan has an unwavering commitment to continuous professional development and holds an MSc with Distinction in Computing from The Open University, where his research focused on applying artificial intelligence (AI) to network compromise detection. He also holds a First-Class BSc in Computing Informatics from the University of Plymouth, reflecting his strong academic foundation alongside his extensive industry experience, which he will bring to his role at the College.

Gloucestershire College’s mission remains to deliver ‘learning that works’, empowering individuals, widening opportunity and supporting social mobility by providing high-quality technical and professional education. Dan strongly embodies this mission, having previously delivered specialist lectures to Gloucestershire College learners on areas including cloud computing, containers and artificial intelligence (AI), while helping to bridge the gap between academic theory and industry-standard DevOps practices.

Speaking about his appointment as Director of DigiTech, Dan Smale said: “I am delighted to be joining Gloucestershire College as Director of DigiTech and am excited to play a key role in delivering the College’s Technical Excellence College programme for Digital and Technologies. The opportunity to work with learners, colleagues and employer partners to develop the high-level technical skills needed for the future workforce is incredibly exciting. I look forward to building on the strong foundations already in place, strengthening industry partnerships and helping to create new opportunities for learners across Gloucestershire.”

The appointment aligns with Gloucestershire County Council’s digital strategy and the College’s commitment to delivering employer-led digital skills that support both local and national workforce needs. As a Technical Excellence College, Gloucestershire College will serve as a hub of excellence, collaborating with other providers to raise standards nationwide while helping to address the growing demand for 600,000 skilled workers in priority industries by 2030.

Andy Bates, Chief Financial Officer at Gloucestershire College, said: “We were proud to be recognised by the Department for Education as a Technical Excellence College. Dan’s extensive experience across technology, education and industry will be a great asset as we continue to forge strong partnerships with employers and expand our delivery of employer-led digital skills through DigiTech.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

About Gloucestershire College: Gloucestershire College (GC) is a career-focused education provider, delivering ‘learning that works’ across campuses in Cheltenham, Gloucester and the Forest of Dean. Welcoming more than 13,000 full-time and part-time learners each year, the College offers a wide range of academic, technical and professional qualifications, including T Levels, BTECs, award-winning apprenticeships, university-level qualifications, professional training and flexible part-time, online and short courses. Recognised as one of just 19 institutions awarded Technical Excellence College status, Gloucestershire College has a particular focus on developing the skills needed for high-demand industries, including digital technology. Working with more than 1,300 employer partners, the College provides bespoke training solutions that help businesses address skills shortages while creating clear pathways into skilled employment. Gloucestershire College employs over 800 members of staff and is committed to supporting learners at every stage of their educational and career journey.

Find out more at www.gloscol.ac.uk 

For further information please contact:

Andy Bates, Chief Financial Officer and Vice Principal

Telephone: 07748 704022

Email: andy.bates@gloscol.ac.uk