BBC to lay off quarter of IT staff?

The BBC may be set to axe up to a quarter of its online IT staff in a bid to cut costs, it has been claimed.

After director general Mark Thompson's strategic review of the corporation's scope and activities, the organisation's overall web output and staff numbers could be reduced by 25 per cent, the Guardian claimed.

A source close to the BBC Trust told the newspaper that the strategic review is still 'at the stage of discussions', with no agreement, but cuts to staff look increasingly likely as the corporation looks to make every area of the operation more profitable.

'The proposed cuts would save £600m which would be reinvested in UK-originated content and are based on the assumption that the licence fee would be frozen in 2013,' it said.

Meanwhile, media and entertainment union BECTU has announced that Siemens IT staff employed at the BBC are balloting for industrial action over pay freezes.

Technology innovation 'will help economic recovery'

Innovation in technology will help to stimulate economic recovery of countries in recession, according to one sector specialist.

Roland Harwood, the director of open innovation at NESTA, said technology innovation has slowed slightly in the economic downturn but it will pick up in the coming months.

His comments come after IDC research showed that it has helped economies to remain stable during the recession and will play an increasingly important role, as innovation and investment continues in 2010.

'However, NESTA recently surveyed 153 senior executives from FTSE 100 companies and found that 47 per cent are doing more innovation now, 42 per cent are doing the same amount of innovation, and only 11 per cent said they were doing less,' Mr Harwood explained.

The expert added that the survey also suggested that open innovation will be among the fastest-growing trends in the next 12 months, with the majority of global firms getting behind it.

Malware threats 'stifled by website security'

The best way to stifle the threat of malware is to ensure websites are secure, one sector expert has pointed out.

Paul Baccas, a senior threat analyst at SophosLabs, said that believing a more basic website is less dangerous than a complex one is a 'foolhardy' stance.

The specialist's comments follow the publication of a report by Microsoft, with the company announcing a crackdown on a botnet known as Waledac.

According to the IT giant, the operation, known internally as Operation b49, was one of the ten largest in the US and responsible for distributing spam emails all over the planet.

'The security of a site is much more impacted by the security of the server hosting the site, rather than its content. The most sensible steps are to follow established best practices. For instance, secure and hard to crack passwords,' Mr Baccas said.

He added that it is easy to avert the threat of malware by ensuring that any entry points in the company's website are plugged and secure.

Monitoring energy output 'will become more popular'

New ways o

f monitoring a company's energy output will become more popular in the coming years as companies place tighter cost restrictions on power usage, it has been claimed.

Harkeeret Singh, vice-chair of the Europe, Middle East and Africa Technical Group for the Green Grid, said more firms are placing a focus on their green agenda in a bid to cut costs and restrict the impact their organisation is having on the planet.

The expert was speaking following leaked government plans showing that it intends to consolidate its data centres into a small number of more efficient ones, in a bid to save up to £300 million per annum.

'There's been a shift. Companies are recognising that. In terms of different facilities which you make, monitor and manage, potentially you'll focus investment in power usage effectiveness. The metric is constrained by your location. You must work within it,' Mr Singh explained.

Report: Cyber attacks affect 75% of firms

Cybercrimi

nals are now targeting three-quarters of firms, according to a new report.

Data issued by Symantec as part of its State of Enterprise Security 2010 survey showed that 75 per cent of businesses were targeted by cybercriminals in the past 12 months, costing millions of pounds of damage.

According to the poll, which questioned over 2,100 companies of all sizes worldwide, hackers are using increasingly sophisticated ways to bypass security systems or exploit loopholes.

Luis Corrons, technical director for Panda Security, said that the results can be devastating if firms do not put measures in place to ward off attackers.

'Small and medium companies, mainly, are the ones that are most in danger, because they don't have huge security teams in place. We see cases [of this] on almost a daily basis,' the expert said.

He added that it can often be months before any intrusions are noticed, by which time firms may have suffered severe financial losses.

IT staff to ballot over industrial action

Media and

entertainment union BECTU has announced that Siemens IT staff employed at the BBC will begin a ballot for industrial action today.

According to the organisation, it follows the employer's decision to implement a pay freeze, which in turn comes after a major redundancy operation which caused over 70 staff to lose their jobs.

National official Suresh Chawla said the pay freeze comes as 'a real double whammy' for members, due to the level of redundancies that have already been endured, particularly as a pay freeze would not safeguard jobs.

'Siemens' position is untenable. We have no option but to ballot our members for industrial action. We hope to be able to resume talks with the employer once they're able to make an offer,' the representative said.

It comes after a recent report from business internet service provider Lumison showed that many staff would be happier and more productive if they could work from home.

IT staff to ballot over industrial action

Media and

entertainment union BECTU has announced that Siemens IT staff employed at the BBC will begin a ballot for industrial action today.

According to the organisation, it follows the employer's decision to implement a pay freeze, which in turn comes after a major redundancy operation which caused over 70 staff to lose their jobs.

National official Suresh Chawla said the pay freeze comes as 'a real double whammy' for members, due to the level of redundancies that have already been endured, particularly as a pay freeze would not safeguard jobs.

'Siemens' position is untenable. We have no option but to ballot our members for industrial action. We hope to be able to resume talks with the employer once they're able to make an offer,' the representative said.

It comes after a recent report from business internet service provider Lumison showed that many staff would be happier and more productive if they could work from home.

Firms 'more aware of IP telephony'

Companies working in all industries understand the benefits of IP telephony, it has been suggested, which could create new IT jobs.

Research from IT industry analyst IDC showed that 73 per cent of large businesses know what IP telephony is, with firms in the healthcare, transport, and manufacturing sectors having the greatest awareness of the technology.

Giacomo Laurini, senior research analyst of European vertical markets at the consultancy, commented: 'The business case for widespread adoption of IP telephony solutions is more present now than ever given the economic uncertainty that western Europe is experiencing.'

He explained that this is being driven by the need to cut the cost of voice communications in light of tightening budgets.

However, the research also pointed out that around half of companies which are aware of IP telephony do not have plans to implement it in the near future, suggesting that call cost reduction alone is not a large enough justification.

Recent research from communications markets insight company TeleGeography claimed that more firms are choosing to replace their traditional landline phones with IP telephony.

Business confidence 'will return eventually'

It will take several years for business confidence to return to its pre-recession state, IT job candidates have been told.

Recent research from business services firm BDO LLP predicted that companies will suffer from high levels of uncertainty, risk and complexity in the years to 2015, as the economy shifts from the traditional industrial model to the digital future.

Commenting on the report, Tony Dolphin, senior economist for the Institute for Public Policy Research, said it seems 'reasonable' to expect confidence to take five years to return.

'This year growth could be weak. Economies do recover and grow. It will take a bit of time but most economists think that we will get back to normal growth,' he added.

Mr Dolphin also claimed that the UK economy will be 'looking recognisable' within several years, which should provide companies with some comfort and confidence.

This week, prime minister Gordon Brown announced that £200 million from the UK Innovation Investment Fund will be poured into the advanced manufacturing, digital and life sciences sectors to stimulate growth and job creation.

Skills development 'always important'

IT workers should ensure they are equipped with the skills any potential companies could desire, experts have claimed.

Speaking to the Financial Times, Ian Pearson, a futurologist at consultancy firm Futurizon, recommended that people realise the lifespan of their knowledge is increasingly limited and they should constantly be looking to learn new skills.

Furthermore, he advised workers to dedicate some time developing knowledge in fields related to their job, in order to develop as broad a skills base as possible, and stressed the importance of being flexible in career choices.

Miranda Kennett, founder of First Class Coach, also told the newspaper that IT workers should constantly review their skills or expertise and highlight these to potential employers.

'Rewrite your CV every year. If you can’t find something new to add to it then look at yourself,' she added.

A recent survey by training provider Citrix GoToTraining discovered that 82 per cent of employees believe the opportunity to learn new skills is an essential element of their career development.

Homeworking 'increases productivity'

IT workers can realise greater levels of productivity if they operate remotely, an expert has claimed.

A recent report from business internet service provider Lumison showed almost three-quarters of employees think their productivity would rise if they could work from home.

Mark Lewis, senior Europe, the Middle East, and Africa director of marketing and alliances at IT firm Riverbed, explained that employees can be more focused on the task in hand when they are outside of the office environment.

'If organisations have the right infrastructure in place, working from home can often prove to be more productive to many employees, as there are less distractions,' he commented.

Mr Lewis added that there are a wide range of technologies, such as VoIP and remote server access, which can allow IT workers to carry out the same tasks they would be expected to perform when in the office.

Last week, a study from the Wolfson Research Institute at Durham University, published by the Cochrane Library, claimed flexible working can be good for employees' health.

MLBS market 'set for growth'

The mobile location-based services (MLBS) market is expected to be worth more than $12 billion (£7.8 billion), which could create new IT jobs.

A report from Juniper Research predicted that revenues in the MLBS sector will grow to reach $12.7 billion over the next four years, driven by the proliferation of smartphones and developments in hybrid positioning technologies.

The research also claimed that easier consumer access to mobile applications and the deployment of high-capacity network infrastructure will support the growth of the market.

Dr Windsor Holden, the study's co-author, commented: 'Location-based applications are extremely interesting for brands and retailers in that they allow those companies to direct consumers to outlets in their vicinity while simultaneously providing information about the products on offer.'

He also said that firms will use MLBS technologies alongside mobile coupons and vouchers to increase customer take-up of the services.

Earlier this week, industry researcher IDC revealed that the smartphone market reached record levels at the end of last year, growing by 39 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2009.

UKIIF to invest in high-tech sectors

The government has unveiled a £200 million investment for the UK's high-tech industries.

Speaking at the Global Investment Conference, prime minister Gordon Brown announced that the advanced manufacturing, digital and life sciences sectors will receive support from the UK Innovation Investment Fund (UKIIF).

Fund managers the European Investment Fund has matched £100 million put up by the government and the sum will be channelled towards venture capital vehicles focusing on technology-based companies.

The deal follows the announcement last month that £125 million from the UKIIF will be given to the country's low-carbon and clean-tech industries.

Mr Brown commented: 'Our new £325 million Innovation Investment Fund - launched as part of Building Britain's Future - shows our commitment to the industries and the technologies that will create the skilled jobs of the future.'

Lord Drayson, science and innovation minster, added that the fund is important in helping the UK economy to return to growth and create new IT jobs.

Earlier this month, research consultancy IDC claimed that the IT industry will play an important role in helping the global economy recover from the recent downturn.

Scottish videogames 'will create IT jobs'

The Scottish computer games sector is important in creating new IT jobs in the country, it has been claimed.

Speaking at Abertay University, UK minister for Digital Britain Stephen Timms highlighted the contribution that the videogames industry makes to wider economy.

Mr Timms explained that Scotland has been the home to some of the sector's leading firms, such as Digital Goldfish and Realtime Words - both of which were established by graduates of the university.

He also pointed out that some of the most popular videogames, such as the Lemmings and Grand Theft Auto series, were developed in Scotland.

In addition, the minister announced that £2.5 million will be invested in the university by the government to allow it set up 30 new firms, support another 80 and create up to 400 new IT jobs in the UK.

'This new investment will strengthen Abertay University as a centre of excellence for the games industry. Investing now means that firms can start to build and grow for the future,' Mr Timms commented.

Recently, the X48 competition at Birmingham City University saw budding games developers convene to demonstrate their skills with Microsoft's XNA Game Studio 3.1.

Govt publishes fit note advice

The government has launched new guidance for the 'fit note' system which will be introduced later this year.

From April 6th, doctors may be able advise on whether an employee is able to undertake certain tasks and make suggestions such as amended duties or working hours to help with their medical problems.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has launched new online resources to detail how the change affects staff, their employers and GPs, explaining that the system is designed to support people in returning to the workplace as soon as possible.

Lord McKenzie, minster for the DWP, commented: 'We know work is good for people’s health. With the right support in place, employers and doctors can work with employees to help them get back to work sooner.'

National director for health and work Dame Carol Black also claimed that the fit note is 'hugely important' in encouraging doctors to think about the best way to help people back into employment.

Speaking to People Management this month, Dr Steven Boorman, director of corporate responsibility and chief medical adviser at Royal Mail Group, called for more guidance on how the new system will work.

East Midlands examines rural internet roll-out

An event in the East Midlands has looked at how next-generation broadband can be rolled out in the region, which may create new IT jobs.

Last week, the East Midlands Rural Broadband Summit, organised by the East Midlands Development Agency (emda), featured a range of speakers from organisations such as the Country Land and Business Association, BT and local authorities.

The presentations addressed the importance of bringing superfast internet to rural areas and examined how this is being done in other regions in the UK.

Delegates were asked to contribute to a rural broadband manifesto which would contain plans to boost local internet access.

Andrew Morgan, emda's skills and communities director, said: 'A modern digital economy will be essential in helping the East Midlands with the transition beyond economic recession and in supporting the low carbon agenda.'

Last month, TechRadar.com editor Dan Grabham said that the new Corridor Manchester fibre optic network will attract new business to the city, as well as create IT jobs.

TUC: Flexible working good for health

The Trade Unions Congress (TUC) has pointed out that flexible working can have a range of benefits, which is welcome news for those in IT contractor jobs.

A spokesperson for the organisation explained that flexible working patterns have positive effects on a worker's health and claimed this ultimately rewards their employer.

'By giving staff a better work-life balance, flexible working can benefit businesses by improving staff retention and productivity, while reducing stress and absence levels,' they explained.

The representative added that there are a variety of ways in which an individual can bring more flexibility into their role, such as through flexible shift patterns or home and remote working.

A recent study carried out by the Wolfson Research Institute at Durham University, published by the Cochrane Library, showed that health factors such as heart rate, blood pressure, sleep and mental wellbeing can be improved by flexible working.

The research looked at ten studies which covered more than 16,000 people to reach its conclusions.

Email 'preferred by fraudsters'

Email has become the preferred channel for scam messages because of its ease and efficacy, IT security consultants have been warned.

Recent research from the Office of Fair Trading found that 73 per of UK residents have been sent a scam email in the past 12 months, compared to 21 per cent receiving a letter from fraudster and 12 per cent a text message.

Greg Day, director of security strategy for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at McAfee, said that the main reason behind email's popularity with scammers is its low cost.

He explained that cybercriminals can use scam generation toolkits to easily create emails to send out to potential victims.

'Cost, ease - literally now anybody can do this with these kinds of toolkits, you no longer have to be a professional expert, it's proven, it's something you can repeat,' the expert commented.

Mr Day added that emails can be sent to millions of people, which means cybercriminals only need a low success rate in order to make a profit.

Workers 'believe training is important'

Most UK workers recognise the importance of training, which may interest those seeking new IT jobs.

A poll conducted by training provider Citrix GoToTraining found that 82 per cent of employees believe the opportunity to learn new skills is an essential element of their career development, while 78 per cent think this would be an important factor when considering a new job.

Andrew Millard, director of e-commerce for Citrix Online's GoToTraining, said: 'The research reveals the importance of training to both businesses and workers across Europe and highlights a number of issues that are affecting the quantity and quality provided.'

In addition, the survey discovered that 88 per cent of employers consider training to be important, but many cite a range of factors as preventing them from effectively delivering it.

The research showed that 56 per cent of employers find the cost of training to be prohibitive, 54 per cent find it hard it schedule time for the sessions and 30 per cent do not want staff away from their desk.

Recently, an index published by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation and professional services KPMG found there is record demand for permanent workers in the IT industry.

Green IT 'increasingly important'

Companies should attempt to make their IT systems as efficient as possible, those seeking chief information officer jobs have been told.

Numara Software pointed out that it is becoming increasingly important for firms to address green concerns and noted that implementing more efficient systems could be beneficial to them as well as the environment.

David Weiss, president and chief executive of Numara Software, said that most computers are used for less than 20 per cent of the time they are switched on, meaning that firms are wasting energy and money.

He added that using power management software can alleviate the problem, as it will automatically turn computers off when they are left idle.

'Given the shifts in government energy policies, and increasing pressure from investors and shareholders, companies need to look for proven ways to adopt the green IT policies that will immediately impact their bottom line,' Mr Weiss commented.

Last year, a report by Datamonitor predicted that companies will increasingly use green IT in order to benefit from the cost savings it can deliver.

Trojans 'starting to attack other malware'

IT security consultants have been warned that hackers are becoming more competitive in their attempts to infect computer networks.

Recently, experts noted that two types of malware - Spy Eye and Zeus - were recorded 'fighting' each other for control of computers, with Spy Eye including coding to destroy the other trojan.

Both pieces of malware are designed to steal banking information from computers, with Spy Eye selling for around £320 to cybercriminals - less than a fifth of the price of Zeus.

Commenting on the malware-on-malware attack, SophosLabs manager Richard Wang claimed it demonstrates the lengths hackers will go to increase their earnings from trojans.

'Using one form of malware to attack another is a means of increasing market share and thereby the value of a botnet or other set of controlled computers,' he said.

The expert also predicted that such attacks could become more common, as the number of viruses increase their competition to dominate the declining numbers of computers which remain uninfected.

UK 'will see the rise of elite workers'

'Elite' workers with specialist technical and professional skills are likely to wield increasing amounts of powers in the workplace, IT job applicants have been told.

The Visions of Britain 2020 report, compiled by the Future Foundation and Friends Provident, pointed out that elite employees tend to have characteristics such as self motivation, a thirst for knowledge and flexibility.

According to the research, workers of this type will become more valued by companies in the next ten years as their skills are typically in short supply, and expect to achieve improved salaries, benefits and job satisfaction.

Trevor Matthews, chief executive of Friends Provident, said: 'A new breed of elite worker is … beginning to emerge, who by 2020 will carry more power than ever before. The statement 'our people are our greatest asset' will take on a new meaning for employers in 2020.'

In addition, the report showed that 78 per cent of elite employees would consider retraining to change their career.

Last week, Steve Huxham, chairman of the Recruitment Society, said that people should be flexible when looking for a new IT job, as the current economic climate could make it difficult for them to find the exact position they want.

Contractor health 'improved by flexible working'

Following a flexible working pattern could be beneficial to health, IT contractors have been told.

A Cochrane review looked that ten studies which covered more than 16,000 people and attempted to identify if flexible working practices can results in health benefits.

The research found that self-scheduling of working hours could be linked to improvements in a range of health indicators, such as sleep, mental health and blood pressure.

In addition, researchers drew attention to one study, which showed police officers who set their own start times have better levels of psychological wellbeing than colleagues who work to fixed hours.

Clare Bambra of the Wolfson Research Institute at Durham University in the UK said: 'Flexible working seems to be more beneficial for health and wellbeing where the individuals control their own work patterns, rather than where employers are in control.'

Last month, research from the Tufts Medical Center in Boston pointed out that psychological wellbeing often has an impact on productivity, with depressed or stressed workers tending to suffer from fatigue and poor motivation.

REC: Employer optimism is high

The UK's employers remain upbeat about the growth in UK jobs, it has been found, which could be good news for those looking for IT positions.

According to the latest Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) JobsOutlook survey, 94 per cent of firms think they will maintain or expand their permanent workforces in the coming year.

In addition, one-quarter expect to grow their temporary workforce in the next 12 months, offering more opportunities for agency staff or IT contractors.

Roger Tweedy, director of research of the REC, said: 'Increasing employer confidence looks like resulting in more hires over the coming year.

'Businesses are naturally cautious about the economic recovery which is why the provision of temporary and contract work will continue to provide a useful outlet.'

He added that the REC is hoping the government will remove barriers to job creation like the rise in business taxation and new employment regulations to aid the UK's employment situation.

New figures from the Office for National Statistics show that the UK's unemployment rate in the three months to the end of December was at 7.8 per cent, remaining constant from the previous quarter.

IT 'will drive economic growth'

Information and communications technologies (ICT) will help a new 'intelligent' economy emerge from the economic slowdown, it has been predicted.

Research consultancy IDC told IT job applicants that the ICT industry will play a significant role in helping the global economy in recovering from the worst downturn of more than 50 years.

'ICT developments in cloud computing, software as a service, ubiquitous mobility, and Web 2.0 are fundamentally transforming the way enterprises do business,' the group explained.

Furthermore, IDC predicted that companies will begin to realise the importance of deploying technology to boost efficiency, facilitate growth and safeguard against future crises.

John Gantz, IDC chief research officer and senior vice president, added that firms which start to adopt new technologies in the early stages of the recession will develop a competitive edge over their rivals.

Recently, recruitment expert Jamie Bowler claimed there will be an increase in demand for IT jobs in the coming months, as confidence rises in the UK's employment market.

Critical infrastructure 'preferred hacker target'

Critical IT infrastructure used by energy, finance, pharmaceuticals and public sector organisations have more risk of being attacked by hackers, IT security consultants have been warned.

The Annual Global Threat Report, published by ScanSafe, found that groups in these fields are twice as likely to be the target of cybercriminals than those in other industries.

According to the study, energy companies have a 356 per cent greater rate of encounters with data theft trojans, while this stands at 322 per cent of pharmaceutical groups, 252 per cent for government and 204 per cent for finance firms.

Mary Landesman, senior security researcher at ScanSafe, said: 'There is a misconception that cybercriminals are only intent on stealing data intended for credit card fraud and identity theft. In reality, cybercriminals are casting a much wider net.'

The report also showed that the amount of malware being encountered by firms is growing, with the average number of encounter rising from eight a day at the start of 2009 to 19 by the end.

Earlier this month, Sunbelt Software revealed that Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT, the generic detection for trojans, was the most common e-threat faced by firms in January.

REC raises AWD issues with govt

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) is helping to make the roll-out of the Agency Workers Directive (AWD) in the UK as smooth as possible.

In a consultation with the business minister Pat McFadden, the organisation has identified a range of issues which need to be addressed before the European Union legislation is implemented.

The group is calling for more clarity on how the AMD will exclude self-employed workers, guidance on which bonus payment need to be offered to temporary employees and strategies for reducing the amount of unnecessary bureaucracy companies face.

REC director of external relations Tom Hadley said: 'Our immediate priority is to work with government on the official guidance document that will underpin the regulations. Getting this right will lift some of the fog over how equal treatment will work in practice.'

The latest JobsOutlook report, published by the REC, found that there was an increase in awareness among employers about the AWD recently, after 85 per cent of firms said they have heard of the directive - growing from less than half when a survey was conducted 18 months before.

Conservative Party 'plans to amend IR35'

The Conservative Party is considering reforming the IR35 tax system, it has been reported.

Mark Prisk, the shadow business minister, told the Daily Telegraph that the Conservatives could allow the 600,000 people who operate as 'one-man' firms to follow the tax rules applied to the self-employed.

Before the IR35 was introduced in 1999, contractors could work for their clients through their own limited companies and minimise income tax and national insurance contributions (NICS) by paying themselves low wages and taking large dividends.

However, firms of this nature now have to pay NICS of 11 per cent, rather than the £2.40 a week applied to those who are classed as self-employed. The Tories are considering changing this, to allow them pay the same as self-employed workers.

Mr Prisk told the newspaper: 'The current government has treated the self-employed disgracefully. More often than not they have treated them as if they are on the fiddle, which is wholly unacceptable. We want to reform the system.'

A recent poll by the British Chambers of Commerce found that 13 per cent of firms think the government's main focus should be making their UK's tax system more competitive.

Foreign workers 'receive 1.3m NI numbers'

Over 1.3million new national insurance (NI) numbers have been allocated to foreign workers in the last two years, Department for Work and Pensions figures seen by the Conservative Party show.

According to the data, 1,370,820 NI numbers were given to overseas staff from July 2007 to June 2009, despite Gordon Brown's pledge to maintain 'British jobs for British workers' just before he became prime minister.

Sayeeda Warsi, communities spokesperson for the Conservatives, said the report show the 'chaos' which is afflicting the UK's immigration system.

'These figures show that all the tough talk about protecting British jobs was just hot air. We can't go on like this,' she commented.

Ms Warsi added that the UK's workers would benefit if further steps were taken to control the immigration system and more investment was made in the education and training of British employees.

The British Chambers of Commerce recently called for the government to scrap the one per cent rise in employers' NI contributions and suggested it is replaced with an increase in VAT.