A new course is set to help Scotland’s rural dairy businesses embrace blockchain and cryptocurrency, in a move that could transform financial access and transparency across the sector.

University of the West of Scotland (UWS), working with the Digital Dairy Chain programme, and Scotcoin, has launched a new Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme to provide small and medium-sized enterprises in the dairy supply chain with the tools to use digital finance.

The course will provide hands-on workshops and practical training to help rural businesses understand how blockchain and cryptocurrency can support growth and reduce costs.

 

Rural businesses often face higher costs and restricted access to financial services. By demystifying blockchain and showing how cryptocurrencies like Scotcoin can be applied in real-world contexts, we’re giving dairy businesses the skills to innovate and future-proof while improving supply chain transparency.

 

Theo Tzanidis Senior Lecturer in Digital Marketing at UWS and academic lead for the programme

 

Delivered by experts in blockchain and digital transformation, the course will cover the fundamentals of cryptocurrency, its integration into business models, and its potential to support more efficient and transparent procurement systems.

 

This course is about giving our dairy businesses the confidence and practical skills to embrace digital change. Blockchain and cryptocurrency may feel like big, complex technologies, but we’re making them accessible and directly relevant to everyday business challenges, while ensuring the dairy sector remains competitive and sustainable for the future. It’s about supporting resilience and creating a sustainable future for the dairy industry.

Lynne Somerville, Skills Lead for Digital Dairy Chain

 

The course is funded through an Innovation Voucher from UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) Strength in Places programme and supported by Scotcoin, Scotland’s own ethical cryptocurrency, which promotes financial inclusion and supports social good initiatives.

 

We’re proud to be launching this unique programme, which is directly tailored to the needs of rural SMEs. It’s about building confidence in digital finance and giving businesses the knowledge they need to thrive in an increasingly digital economy.

Suzanne McQuade, Senior CPD Manager at UWS

 

The CPD course, Blockchain & Cryptocurrency for Dairy Sector SMEs, is now open for registration. More information can be found at: cpd.uws.ac.uk.

This project directly supports several UN Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) , SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).