THE computer experts of the future are being given specialist programming classes to put Scotland ahead of the IT pack.

Glasgow youngsters aged eight to 14 are taking part in the Scottish arm of the international programming group Coder Dojo.

The scheme has proved such a hit organisers are now looking to set up similar schemes in Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen.

And its success has seen it gain backing from computer giants Microsoft and Google.

'Dojo' is a Japanese term which describes a training place for martial arts.

Craig Steele, the Scottish coordinator of Coder Dojo, said: "It is an international collective of people with the common goal of getting more young people interested in learning about software and programming.

"We have so many young people interested in the classes now that we can't fit them all in. We have nearly 100 on our books so when I release 20 tickets for the classes, they go in a couple of hours.

"It has been fantastic to see so many young people take an interest in computer programming and we're now hoping to get funding to make the groups a permanent fixture."

Craig, a Glasgow University graduate, set up the Glasgow branch of Coder Dojo in July last year.

Glasgow Science Centre offered space for a once a month meeting that quickly became twice-monthly as more and more youngsters signed up.

Volunteers from Glasgow-based computing firm Alienation Digital lend a hand to coach pupils.

Cat Leaver, from Alienation Digital, said: "It's great to see such enthusiasm from the kids.

"Our developers have been helping out on a voluntary basis and to watch the club expand over the months has been really rewarding.

"It bodes well for the future of the industry in Scotland and there are definitely some young coders who we will be keen to speak to in years to come. They already possess an advanced skill-set, which can only increase as they continue to learn."

The classes teach young people how to develop websites and applications.

Craig, 25, is now planning one day digital classes in Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen with a view to setting up groups in those cities.

Google has also given its backing to the scheme by donating Raspberry Pi computers to be given to group members.

Craig added: "We don't have a good, co-ordinated way of getting young people interested in coding and after I graduated that was something I wanted to look at.

"At the moment the number of computing graduates is falling, while the numbers of large companies needing people who can write programmes is rising.

"Scotland is a country that was at the forefront of innovation, but where is the Scottish Facebook or Google?

"We really need to have our own Mark Zuckerbergs and Steve Jobs."

catriona.stewart@ eveningtimes.co.uk