UK 'still has high demand for IT skills'

The UK still has high levels of demand for workers with IT skills, an expert has asserted.

Richard Nott, website director at CWJobs.co.uk, claimed that the recent recession has not caused the demand for IT staff to subside, as the UK currently has a skills gap in the technology sector.

Mr Nott, who was speaking at the 360 IT infrastructure event in London, commented: 'Even though we've been through the recession and everything else, there is still an underlying skills gap in IT at the end of the day, especially with the more cutting edge skills.'

He also suggested to those seeking new IT jobs that good opportunities could be found in the banking and finance industry, but said he expects the whole technology labour market to see continued improvement over the coming two years.

Earlier this month, Dr Richard Wilson, chief executive of videogame trade association TIGA, claimed that some parts of the computer game industry currently have a wealth of employment opportunities.
 

Security appliance market 'resumes growth'

Factory revenues in the western European security appliance market have shown signs of renewed growth, which may be good news for those seeking IT jobs.

A new study by IT industry analyst IDC showed that revenues in the market reached $446 million (£281 million) in the second quarter of 2010, which is an increase of 20.7 per cent on the year before.

In addition, the research revealed that factory shipments rose by 13.3 per cent on the same quarter of 2009, with 139,061 units being dispatched over the three-month period.

Romain Fouchereau, research analyst at IDC, commented: 'This quarter sees the first double-digit annual growth in the security appliance market since the impact of the economic downturn showed during the first quarter of 2009.'

However, Mr Fouchereau added that the results should be viewed in context, as this year's figures are being compared to weak results from 2009, when the industry was adversely affected by the recession.

Last month, Gartner predicted that revenues in the worldwide security software market will increase by 11.3 per cent over the course of 2010 to reach $16.5 billion.
 

REC responds to govt PAYE plans

The Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) has commented on a government discussion paper to streamline the Pay as You Earn (PAYE) process.

A paper published HM Revenue & Customs suggested a number of proposals to improve the current PAYE regime, reduce administrative costs and cut the number of incorrect tax deductions.

Responding to the suggestions, REC policy adviser Chris Richards said the government should consider how some of them, such as plans to migrate all employee tax details into a centralised account, will work in the real world.

'The discussion paper included some valid suggestions on how to improve the speed and accuracy of the PAYE system. As ever, we will need to weigh the practical implications of the options put forward,' he continued.

Mr Richards added that the recruitment industry will welcome any new measure which reduces the amount of bureaucracy it faces.

This week, HMRC reminded people that paper-based self assessment tax returns have to be filed by October 31st.
 

Govt responds to contractor security vetting petition

The government has responded to a petition on the No10 website and clarified the policy on the security vetting of IT contractors.

In June of this year, IT contractor Glen Andrews launched an e-petition about the issue of people being unable to apply for sensitive government positions unless they already hold security clearance.

Mr Andrews explained that he has worked for the government in the past, but his clearance has since lapsed and he is unable to chase some contracts.

The official response said: 'Employers are advised that they should not, generally, require prospective job candidates to hold a clearance prior to applying. This policy is reflected in a statement of the vetting policy.'

In addition, the government said that it would like examples of adverts which demand applicants hold pre-existing security clearance but rejected the call of the the petition for contractors to be able to pay for themselves to be cleared for sensitive work.

Earlier this year, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation raised concerns about some public sector positions unnecessarily demanding that applicants have pre-existing security clearance.
 

PEV popularity 'to swell by 2015'

New research has predicted that there will be more than 2.7 million electric vehicles on the global grid in the next four years, which may create new technology jobs.

A study published by IDC Energy Insights said the roll-out of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) will reach the mainstream by 2011 and continue to grow in popularity.

The research also claimed that, of the 2.7 million PEVs expected to be on the roads by 2015, 885,000 will be found in North America and more than 780,000 will be in Europe.

IDC Energy Insights research manager Sam Jaffe commented: 'PEVs are coming. Despite many doubters, this oft-promised technology is finally on the verge of becoming a reality, with more than 540,000 vehicles to be sold globally by 2012.'

He also recommended the electric utilities industry begins to prepare for the extra demands that the spread of electric vehicles will place on power networks.

Earlier this year, Canadiandriver.com assistant editor Jil McIntosh claimed that the coming years will see a marked improvement in electric car batteries and plug-in systems.
 

HMRC warns of self assessment deadline

The government has reminded some taxpayers that their self assessment tax return has to be filed before the end of next month.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) pointed out that people who want to file their self assessment on paper have to submit the document by October 31st or they could be liable for a £100 penalty.

The organisation also said that people can find help with their self assessments by visiting its website or calling its helpline on 0845 9000 444.

However, the body explained that around three-quarters of people who file tax self assessments do so electronically, as this gives them an extra three months to complete the process.

'Online filing has other advantages too: your tax is calculated automatically, you get an immediate online acknowledgement once you've filed and it's processed faster,' the HMRC added.

In July, Andrew Hubbard, a past president of the Chartered Institute of Taxation, claimed that the UK's current small business tax regime has become overly complex.
 

Gender 'still influences job decisions'

University leavers seem to be applying for positions based on their gender, it has been claimed.

Recent research carried out by the Guardian suggested a gender bias is still found in the UK's labour market, with men tending to chase positions that pay well while women seek roles which allow them to nurture others.

Dan Hawes, co-founder of the Graduate Recruitment Bureau, agreed that men and women do tend to apply for different types of roles, adding that men seem to be more willing to go for new IT jobs.

He explained: 'IT has historically had trouble getting females into the industry because of the perception. It is mainly a male domain.'

However, Mr Hawes said that the recession may have caused some people to reconsider their career options and go for roles they had not thought about applying for previously.

Last month, Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology vice-president of marketing Jerri Barrett called on the IT industry to do more to attract female workers.
 

CVs 'have no room for irrelevant information'

IT jobseekers and other applicants should attempt to remove irrelevant information from their CVs, it has been advised.

Owen Morgan, commercial director at human resources and consulting firm Penna, wrote in the Financial Times that people should edit out old details, such as O-level results, from their resumes.

'They're not relevant given the amount of time that's elapsed since they were taken. Most recruiters are interested in the last two jobs and anything beyond that is dated,' he explained.

Mr Morgan also wrote that essential information to place in a CV includes contact details, a brief personal profile, career history in reverse chronological order and any relevant qualifications and training.

He added that revealing information about hobbies and interests could be useful, as it allows recruiters to gain a more rounded view of the candidate.

Recently, A K Computing director Adam King wrote on Contractor UK that IT contractor have to ensure they are submitting a strong CV to prospective employers.
 

Firms 'set to deal with virtualisation challenges'

Virtualisation is expected to be one of the most pressing IT infrastructure issues facing businesses in the years to come, it has been predicted.

Research published by IT industry analyst Gartner found that over 80 per cent of companies are currently undertaking some form of virtualisation initiative, but only one-quarter of workloads will have been migrated to a virtual server by the end of the year.

Philip Dawson, research vice president at Gartner, added that virtualisation is likely to remain the highest-impact area in firm's IT infrastructure and operations strategy in the years to 2015.

'Virtualisation now drives efficient IT from all angles, including data centre design, platform updates and application and infrastructure modernisation, as well as traditional and new delivery models, such as infrastructure utility and cloud computing,' he explained.

Mr Dawson added that many companies have successfully virtualised their storage and networking operations and claimed the next large challenge facing them is implementing the technology in their servers.

Recent research from Gartner found that 10.2 per cent of external IT services spending in 2010 will be taking up with cloud computing projects.
 

Appropriate dress 'vital for interview success'

Those being interviewed for a new IT job or similar position should make sure they dress appropriately for the meeting, it has been recommended.

Writing on helium.com, Milton Johanides claimed that attire can make a difference in whether an applicant has a successful interview or not.

'These may be the days of anything goes, but like it or not, the man or woman behind that personnel desk will be making judgments about you depending on how you are dressed,' he claimed.

Mr Johanides advised candidates to dress as smart as possible for an interview, suggesting that the investment in good clothes will prove worthwhile if they are successful in winning the job.

He also recommended that people pay close attention to their hair and shoes, as many candidates neglect to ensure these look at their best.

This month, Tess Shebaylo wrote on rvanews.com that people should strive to display good manners when they are being interviewed for a new position.
 

REC applauds Ed Miliband's leadership victory

The Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) has welcomed Ed Miliband in his new role as the leader of the Labour Party.

Mr Miliband won the position after triumphing in a vote of the party's members, MPs, trade unions and affiliated societies at the weekend.

REC chief executive Kevin Green said that his organisation will aim to engage with Mr Miliband and his party as early as possible to ensure he fights for the interest of the UK's flexible workforce.

'The REC's priority is to raise awareness of the positive contribution that the recruitment industry makes to the economy,' he commented.

Furthermore, the organisation said it will continue to promote the flexible labour market as one of the best ways for the country to keep workers in employment and find jobs for young people.

In becoming Labour Party leader, Mr Miliband saw off competition from his brother David, Ed Balls, Andy Burnham and Diane Abbott.
 

Employers 'reluctant to embrace flexible working'

One-fifth of the UK's staff are prevented from working from home by their employer, research has found, which may encourage some to seek new IT jobs.

A survey carried out by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) suggested that up to 4.5 million people could be interested in working flexibly but are not permitted to by their company.

Brendan Barber, general secretary of the TUC, commented: 'Working from home is growing in popularity but millions of staff are still unable to try it out thanks to over controlling employers.'

The organisation also pointed out that flexible working can result in many benefits for companies, such as improved employee motivation, productivity and retention.

In addition, it claimed that allowing people to work from home can help a firm to gain a better reputation among jobseekers and boost their recruitment efforts.

Recent research by CV Screen claimed that most IT professionals consider how a new job's location will affect their work/life balance when deciding whether to accept a position.
 

Cloud computing 'accounts for 10% of external IT spending'

Just over ten per cent of external IT services spending in 2010 is expected to concern cloud computing projects, a new report has claimed.

A study published by industry analyst Gartner polled 1,587 respondents in 40 countries and predicted that 10.2 per cent of spending on external IT services will involve cloud computing.

In addition, 46 per cent of respondents who have allocated part of their budgets to cloud computing intend to increase their procurement of the service from external providers.

Bob Igou, research director at Gartner, told IT jobseekers: 'The cloud market is evolving rapidly, with 39 per cent of survey respondents worldwide indicating they allocated IT budget to cloud computing as a key initiative for their organisation.'

He also claimed that firms are shifting their spending from traditional IT services such as data centres and moving towards cloud-based offerings.

Last month, Gartner claimed that worldwide enterprise IT spending is likely to grow by 2.9 per cent over 2010 to exceed $2.4 trillion (£1.5 trillion).
 

Visible career paths 'can keep people in IT jobs'

Visible career paths help improve employee retention within IT jobs, it has been suggested.

Writing on Processor, Brian Hodge said showing clear opportunities for career growth can improve staff motivation and loyalty.

He noted: 'If workers possess suitable skills for positions elsewhere in the company, don't confine them in the IT box. Consider promoting from within IT to other departments.'

Companies were also encouraged to listen to employees' suggestions by Mr Hodge.

'Consult them, and not only will IT [staff] feel respected and derive the satisfaction of managing a system they designed, but it could also save the company money.'

Earlier this month, a report by Randstad said that companies can increase staff retention if they utilise their employees' skills.

Randstad's World of Work Report 2010 found that employees wanted remuneration, training, a good career path and flexible working conditions.

Lack of qualifications 'holding employees back'

A lack of qualifications is holding back nearly a third of workers, a new survey of employee attitudes has found, which may interests those looking for jobs in IT.

The research by Home Learning College and reed.co.uk found that many jobseekers are finding it difficult in the current economic climate.

Despite their frustration with their situation, the survey shows that 62 per cent are confident they will get the job they want in the next six months.

Over 4,000 people, of which 48% were in employment, were questioned for the survey, which also found that over half of those interviewed (54 per cent) were planning to enhance their employment prospects through further education.

Dave Snow, academic director at Home Learning College, said: 'The volume of applications for each vacancy means that employers are paying greater attention to candidates' educational history.'

The news comes only days after the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) said that the government needs to encourage employers to retain their staff.
 

Chris Huhne: 250,000 jobs could be supported by Green Deal

The new Green Deal could support up to 250,000 jobs by 2030, energy and climate change secretary Chris Huhne has claimed, which may interest people seeking jobs in IT.

Speaking at the Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference yesterday (September 21st), Mr Huhne suggested that the deal, which will overhaul the energy efficiency of homes and small businesses in the UK, will play a key role in employment.

'People worry now about where the growth will come from. But add the Green Deal to the investment needed to renew our ageing power stations, and you are talking billions. Add our new Green Investment Bank, and you have turbo-charging,' he noted.

The comments come just days after the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) warned that the 'mini jobs boom' experienced by the private sector in the second quarter of this year is unlikely to last.

Dr John Philpott, chief economic adviser at the CIPD, said the recent rises were probably boosted by a one-off unwinding of the recruitment freezes.
 

IR35 reform needed, says Progress

It is important to differentiate between temporary agency workers and freelancers when it comes to IR35 reform, Labour-supporting journal Progress has said, which may interest those seeking IT jobs.

In a column for the publication, Philip Ross said that industries such as IT and the creative sector are 'driven by armies of freelance workers'.

He noted: 'Freelance workers are often competing directly against large corporations in the same market, yet Labour's IR35 policy treated them as employees for tax purposes and denied them the capital to allow them to invest in training and development or even any other business development.'

Labour should make itself the party of small business, he suggested, while arguing that Labour had taken an inflexible approach to issues such as employment rights while in power.

'Freelancers don't need employment rights; temporary and agency workers do,' Mr Ross added.

He said Labour needs to acknowledge that IR35 was a mistake and realise that small businesses and the self-employed are not just means of collecting tax, but 'drivers of our future prosperity.'

The coalition government announced earlier this year that it was to re-examine IR35 as part of its review of business taxation.
 

Employers advised to prevent and manage stress at work

Employers have been advised to prevent and manage stress within the workplace, as this can affect their business, those seeking jobs in IT may be interested to learn.

This is according to a new guide from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

The guide highlights the potential legal risks that bosses face if they ignore their responsibilities when it comes to this problem.
Called Work-Related Stress: What the Law Says, the guide was written by John Hamilton, head of safety, health and wellbeing at Leeds Metropolitan University.

'It is in employers' interests to manage stress at work proactively and not just assume all staff are coping, particularly in a tough economic environment where many employees are under pressure to do more with less,' said Dame Carol Black, the government's director for health and work.

Last month, research by Medicash revealed that men are four times more likely than women to phone in sick due to work related stress. 

Employers need to update policies to meet older workers' needs

Companies across the UK should consider updating their policies in order to meet the needs of the country's ageing workforce, Acas has said, which could be of interest to older workers looking for IT jobs.

Steve Williams, head of equality services at Acas, which works to prevent and resolve employment disputes, suggested that firms need to have a performance management system in place 'to ensure older workers have objectives and the opportunity to identify training needs'.

'They should also be sensitive to the fact older workers are more likely to become disabled and as such the employer would need to make reasonable adjustments as they would for any other employee regardless of age,' he stated.

His comments came after a report by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) found that only 14 per cent of managers think that their organisation is prepared to cope with an ageing workforce.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills announced earlier this year that it is reviewing the default retirement age (DRA). Under its plans, the DRA will be phased out over a six month period, beginning in April 2011.
 

Employers need to be encouraged to retain staff

The government needs to encourage employers to retain their staff, according to the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) - comments which could interest those in IT jobs.

John Hannett, general secretary of Usdaw, said that doing so could 'pay back dividends' as employees may feel that they have been treated well by their bosses.

Commenting on the recent public sector jobs cuts announced by the government, Mr Hannett went on to say that the private sector could pick up some, but not all, of the slack.

'Hopefully, the private sector will pick up and there will be job opportunities,' he added.

Mr Hannett concluded that while some employers are still expanding, others are still cautious about taking new staff on.

Earlier this week, a report form the Office for National Statistics revealed that 70.7 per cent of those aged from 16 to 64 were in employment in the UK in the three months up to July 2010.

Private sector jobs boom 'is unlikely to last'

The 'mini jobs boom' that the private sector experienced in the second quarter of the year is unlikely to last, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has told those seeking jobs in IT.

Commenting on official labour market figures published this week by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), Dr John Philpott, chief economic adviser at the CIPD, noted that full-time employment in particular showed a rise in the quarter.

'The rise in employment was probably boosted by a one-off unwinding of the recruitment freezes introduced in much of the private sector during the recession,' he said.

Mr Philpott went on to say that, in order for hiring rates to be maintained, a much stronger and sustained economic recovery is required.

Marisa Taylor, writing in the Wall Street Journal recently stated that over the next ten years, the demand for those skilled in IT will increase significantly.

She put this down to the fact that businesses are becoming increasingly more reliant on technology.

Lower unemployment figures 'indicate stability'

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) believes that the latest unemployment figures indicate that the jobs market is stabilising, which could interest those seeking employment in IT.

Published this week by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the figures show that the number of people out of work decreased from May to July by around 8,000.

This brings the total number of unemployed people in the UK to 2.47 million.

'The fact that unemployment is down is good news and is another indication of some stability in the jobs market,' said Kevin Green, chief executive at the REC.

However, he went on to say that better bridges into the world of work need to be built in order to reduce unemployment levels even further.

Mr Green also suggested a 'radical shake-up' of the support and guidance that is currently being offered to those who are out of work.

Earlier this week, Jane Artess, director of research for the Higher Education Careers Services Unit said that students need to be enthused about finding a job and made to realise that, despite the recession, there are plenty out there. 

HECSU: Good jobs exist, despite the recession

There are many good jobs out there at the moment despite the recession, those seeking employment in IT have been told.

This is according to Jane Artess, director of research for the Higher Education Careers Services Unit (HECSU).

She said that some of her colleagues believe that making careers advice sessions compulsory at school and university would not engage any more people than the current voluntary meetings.

'The thing to do is enthuse people about careers and help them to understand that there are some really good opportunities out there despite the recession,' Ms Artess added.

Her comments follow calls from student insurance company Endsleigh to radically overhaul the way that university careers services currently function.

A report from the firm suggested that careers services should be turned into not-for-profit recruitment consultancies.

These would specialise in finding work for graduates in businesses that are local to the institution they attended.

Employment rises to 70.7%

Employment rates in the UK rose to 70.7 per cent in the second quarter of the year, new statistics have shown, which could be of interest to those seeking jobs in IT.

Figures published today by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that the employment rate for those aged between 16 and 64 rose by 0.4 per cent in the quarter.

There has not been such a large quarterly increase since the three months leading up to May 1989.

'The number of people in employment aged 16 and over increased by 286,000 on the quarter to reach 29.16 million,' the ONS report stated.

It went on to detail how employment has increased by 301,000 on the year but is 345,000 lower than the figure recorded two years ago.

Those seeking employment in IT were told recently by Marisa Taylor, writing in the Wall Street Journal, that the number of jobs in the field will increase significantly over the next decade.

Careers in IT 'expected to grow significantly by 2010'

Careers in the IT field are expected to grow significantly over the next decade, it has been claimed.

Marisa Taylor, writing in the Wall Street Journal, noted that this is because the products and end results of information technology are a part of the daily lives of individuals and businesses alike.

She quoted figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics which state that jobs in computer software engineering are expected to grow by 32 per cent by 2018.

Ms Taylor went on to say that there is demand for people who have the necessary skills to program or engineer computer software, develop or administer websites, coordinate a company's information security or even to design games and applications.

She emphasised the importance of an in-depth understanding and strong background in programs such as Java, Microsoft.NET, and C++.

'But a creative brain and an ambition to stay updated on the newest advances in the field - whether through books or training - are also key,' Ms Taylor added.

Students looking to enter this field of work should start building their CVs up with experience as early on as possible, Carl Andrew recently suggested in an article for the Guardian.