Recent Blog Posts
IT technical skills
BT’s press office has reported some “worrying” findings as part of its Skills for Tomorrow programme, designed to “close the digital skills knowledge gap that exists between parents and children”. ...
The INCA Conference provides an opportunity to "help" DCMS put flesh on the announcement of £5 billion for broadband at the Conservative Party Conference
Cliff Saran's Enterprise blog
How racist bias is embedded in software systems
Managing Editor 20 May 2019The issue of racist bias encoded in software made mainstream news last week, with a report on Channel Four news highlighting how software for profiling criminal suspects, tend to have racial ...
As we, seemingly, edge closer to something resembling a UK deal for leaving the European Union (and by the time you read this, that statement could quite possibly have been superseded by events), ...
Most of the skills in short supply can be acquired and assessed within days or weeks provided employers and those in their supply chains come together to agree standards and organise co-operation ...
Those who attacked my analysis because it undermined all they held dear (from “the examination treadmill” to the “PhD rat race”) have successfully resisted change to Government academic funding and ...
Computer Weekly Editors Blog
UK will lose without a new approach in the global race for digital talent
Editor in chief 31 May 2018More than three-quarters of UK organisations are experiencing challenges in recruiting people with digital skills, according to research from Deloitte. It’s a shocking figure, but is anyone really ...
Fintech makes the world go around
Warning to all banks: TSB needs help from IBM because banking industry has cut thousands of IT jobs
Emea Content Editor, Computer Weekly 01 May 2018Banks will increasingly rely on suppliers to help them out when IT disasters strike because they simply don't have enough in-house IT experts after years of cuts.
Fintech makes the world go around
I promised myself I would use the B–word a bit less in this blog
Emea Content Editor, Computer Weekly 09 Mar 2018IT apprenticeships fell in the UK last year which is worrying given the IT skills shortage
Fintech makes the world go around
Masochistic Brexiteers get their wish before it even happens, and we will all suffer
Emea Content Editor, Computer Weekly 22 Feb 2018The number of EU citizens coming to the UK is falling even before Brexit has happened because it is quite simple not as good a place to live
WITsend
GUEST BLOG: You think you have an inclusive recruitment strategy? Think again
Editor in chief 28 Nov 2017In this guest post, Byron Calmonson, director at recruitment consultancy Resourcing Hub, talks about the importance of backing up diversity and inclusion policies with real action and engagement ...
Computer Weekly Editors Blog
IT education in schools is still not working - and that's a huge problem for the digital economy
Editor in chief 10 Nov 2017There is a real danger that technology education in schools will wither and die, with all the risks that brings to the UK’s digital skills, research and innovation capabilities. There was great ...
Computer Weekly Editors Blog
UK IT managers: you need to help government understand the skills you need. Here's how...
Editor in chief 01 Sep 2017Having trouble recruiting IT professionals? If so, the government wants your help. Most IT managers that Computer Weekly talks to have some form of skills shortages in their teams, and struggle to ...
When IT Meets Politics
BA systems collapse after offshoring adds context to "freedom of movement"
Winsafe Ltd 27 May 2017The anger among independents over the use of Tier 2 visa to depress UK contract rates will ensure that who-ever is elected will need to respond
Public Sector IT
The government’s transformation strategy is ambitious, but is it achievable?
13 Feb 2017It’s been a long time coming, but the document we’ve all been waiting for is finally here. The Government transformation strategy, billed as one which will, according to Cabinet Office minister Ben ...
WITsend
GUEST BLOG: Why tech needs to think seriously about targets and quotas
Business Editor 30 Jan 2017In this guest blog Amali de Alwis, CEO of Code First: Girls and winner of the Women in IT Awards -Skills Initiative of the Year award, explains why the technology industry needs to consider targets ...
WITsend
Entrepreneurial tech finalists announced for the NatWest Everywoman Awards
Business Editor 19 Nov 2016Everywoman has announced the entrepreneurial women who are finalists for the 2016 NatWest Everywoman Awards Iris Award Category. The Iris Awards, the technology category for the NatWest Everywoman ...
In this contributed post, Christine Flounders, regional manager for engineering at Bloomberg L.P. London explains the importance of diversity in open source. Tech’s gender gap is no secret. It has ...
Micael Dahlen, professor of marketing at the Stockholm School of Economics, regaled delegates to the IFS user conference in Gothenburg with many an amusing tale. One such is an unintended ...
In this blog post, Vicki L. Hanson, president for the Association for Computing Machinery, explores the possibility that as digital becomes a vital part of all industries, more women will begin to ...
Computer Weekly Editors Blog
Government must not ignore the historic international nature of UK IT
Editor in chief 07 Oct 2016We didn’t hear much about the digital economy during the recent political party conferences. Prime minister Theresa May made a throwaway comment in her big set-piece speech suggesting a recognition ...
The Diocese of St. Albans is calling on IT workers to help educate congregations on the link between science and faith, as part of its (bizarrely) named “Take Your Vicar to the Lab” campaign. The ...
The Earlham Institute is working hard to break down preconceptions about who can have a Stem career, and Rob Davey and Peter Bickerton took the time to tell Computer Weekly how. In the lead up to ...
Freelance work website Upwork has released a list of (admittedly US-based) skills in what appear to be mostly technical and highly developer-centric fields. If the US job market (and its technical ...
In this guest blog by Steve Brown, programme Manager at Next Tech Girls, Brown discusses the need for more female role models in the tech industry to encourage girls to pursue tech roles. Gender ...
WITsend
GUEST BLOG: To create more female engineers, we need to create more strong female role models
Business Editor 29 Jun 2016In this contributed blog post, Elaine Baker, the engineering director for the Applied Intelligence division of BAE Systems, explains the need for strong female role models in building the next ...
When IT Meets Politics
CMS Select Committee turns Cybersecurity reporting focus from breaches to performance
Winsafe Ltd 20 Jun 2016The press release for the Culture Media and Sport Select Committee Cybersecurity report headlines the recommendation to jail abusers not just fine their employers. The change of reporting ...
When IT Meets Politics
If there really is a Digital Skills Crisis why are we still pussyfooting?
Winsafe Ltd 13 Jun 2016This morning the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee released its report on the “Digital Skills Crisis” This afternoon the House of Lords debated the government response to ...
In this contributed blog post, Scott Langshaw, IT manager at the East Manchester Academy explains the importance of enabling students through the use of technology. The use of tablets in schools ...
In this contributed blog post, two women at differed points in their careers describe their experiences persuing a career in the tech industry. Ritu Mahandru, vice-president of application delivery ...
IT training and skills advice to empower the digital economy.
In this contriibuted article, Mindtree's Suman Nambiar, europe head of travel and hospitality industry group, and Ranjith Kutty, senior director and head of solutions and new business / travel, ...
This is a guest post by Steve Gandy, CEO at MeetingZone. Reading, and Bracknell, hotly followed by Oxford (near MeetingZone HQ) and Edinburgh, are officially the best cities to live and work in ...
This is a guest post by Geoff Smith, managing director of Experis Europe.Technology is flourishing across Britain - not just in the Silicon roundabout. Tech City UK's Tech Nation report recently ...
ITWorks
Why lack of flexibility cost London businesses 1.5 million working hours during tube strikes
Business Editor 24 Sep 2015This guest post from Steve Gandy, CEO of MeetingZone, describes how businesses were hit by loss of working hours during the tube strikes due to lack of flexibility. Anyone of London's 4 million ...
The CBI recently highlighted that the UK manufacturing industry is experiencing a crisis. In the UK we are lacking the vital skills to increase our productivity. In particular, the STEM skills gap ...
The way we search for jobs is constantly evolving and has historically been shaped by major technological developments. For example, in the nineteenth century the railways opened up new frontiers, ...
This is a guest blog by Claire Higgins, a student from Notre Dame High School in Scotland, who recently visited Silicon Valley after winning the Founders4Schools Appathon competition. Claire and ...
This is a guest blog by Ellie Stevenson, a student from Notre Dame High School in Scotland, who recently visited Silicon Valley after winning the Founders4Schools Appathon competition with her team ...
Today, education and teaching methods are on a transformative path. Schools, colleges, universities and other educational institutions are endeavouring to keep up with digital and technological ...
There are currently many exciting projects around coding in schools, and it's been great watching children getting involved with computing both within the classroom and in extra-curricular groups. ...
A recent OECD report has revealed that the UK has the worst youth skills gap in the Western world.
It is often in conversations with leaders in the IT industry that I hear references to past mentors and how someone else played a significant role in their success. The more successful people I ...
This is a guest from David Wright, director UK Safer Internet Centre at SWGfL, who explores the dangers to children's wellbeing posed by political extremists on social media and outlines the steps ...
While it is true that access to broadband and transport links are essential in enabling the growth of digital start-ups, it is even more important that businesses of all sizes understand the true ...
ITWorks
Codio video runs through BCS Certificate in Computer Science Teaching
Computer Weekly 08 May 2015Codio has released an Ask the Expert's video which investigates the best ways of teaching computer science through coding in schools.
Students have been using laptops, smartphones and tablets on a daily basis and have constant access to hundreds of applications, from social media and email to online banking and retail. Why should ...
ITWorks
Do IT professionals have to abandon technology to progress in their career?
Computer Weekly 02 May 2015It's a fairly common situation in IT: You've spent the last ten years becoming an expert in your field, impressing everyone along the way, and now your boss tells you they want you to go down the ...
Harvard Business Review called data science the "sexiest" job of the 21st century, yet a survey conducted by the CBI warned that 39 percent of companies cannot find staff with the required skills ...
A criticism often levelled at IT education is that by the time you come to apply the skills, they might be out of date. Why learn technology skills when that technology might not be in use in a ...
Software consultancy Scott Logic has published a series of 'A Day in the Life' employee stories to give an insight into what it is like to work technology.
Question: Which Google search returns 366 million hits? Answer: 'Lessons Will Be Learned'. OK, not all of these hits refer to safeguarding but you get the point; this hackneyed phrase has become ...
ITWorks
Technology security in schools - how digital safeguarding isn't just managing online access
Computer Weekly 02 Apr 2015Stone Group's Simon Harbridge and security consultant Jay Abbott of Advanced Security Consulting recently got together to discuss the worrying issue of security in schools and how technology helps ...
If you set a group of year nine pupils a challenge, it is striking how creative they can be. In a brainstorm, it always impresses me how they are able to immediately think laterally and ...
No one should be in any doubt that technology can enable people to work together anytime, anywhere any place and on any device. But although the UK's flexible working policy has been in effect ...
This is the first installment of a three-part series that speaks to navigating the challenges for tech startups in working with universities to accelerate innovation and business goals.
Despite the capital's prominence as the home of silicon roundabout start-ups, Shoreditch design houses, and global banks and insurance companies, the UK's boom in IT job creation is more than just ...
SpacePortX in Manchester are holding an open day this Friday, to invite people from the tech and startup scene to view its space and hear about its mission.
According to the government's website, in 1914 dress making was the most popular apprenticeship, followed by engineering.
Over the last few years there has been a lot of interest in Maker Faires in the US and the Maker Movement.
With IT being the fastest growing industry in the UK, it's probably not too surprising that we're seeing a significant skills shortage, especially in the areas of web development and software ...
Last week, the very latest in cutting-edge technology from around the world was showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. While the programme was dominated by announcements ...
The Skills Show is the UK's biggest skills fair where minds of the future get a taste of what the world of work looks like. CompTIA was there in November 2014, where we were busy demonstrating the ...
The issue of STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) skills - or lack thereof - among the next generation is never far from the news agenda. It has been suggested by many organisations, ...
The lack of STEM skills in the UK is a topic that is continuing to make new headlines. Just recently the Labour party took to social media stating that by 2020 the UK will need 780,000 trained ...
Schools are about learning. All schools want to provide the best quality learning opportunities for the young people they serve. ICT is clearly an essential part of the learning environment in the ...
ITWorks
Can adopting a corporate philanthropy culture help in the attraction and retention of staff?
Computer Weekly 25 Nov 2014According to recent figures from KPMG, the technology sector is expanding faster than any other UK industry. Not surprisingly, then, the latest report from recruitment body APSCo shows growth in IT ...
As a Royal British Legion Poppy Collector myself, I was pleased to hear that FDM Group had its own uniformed personnel supporting London Poppy Day this year.
ITWorks
Inaccuracies in technology candidates' CVs: How the tech industry needs to respond
Computer Weekly 07 Nov 2014I was taken aback by recent news that announced a worryingly high number of inaccuracies in technology candidates' CVs. The survey by First Advantage revealed that more than 37% of CVs submitted to ...
ITWorks
Calling all UK tech firms and evangelists: Skills London 2014 needs you!
Computer Weekly 24 Oct 2014The UK tech sector continues to enjoy its greatest year of growth yet, becoming known as the 'silver economy' by many investors. With this success comes endless career opportunities for highly ...
ITWorks
Will compulsory coding in schools solve the UK's IT skills shortage?
Computer Weekly 20 Oct 2014In September this year, Michael Gove launched his new scheme to making computer coding a mandatory part of the curriculum for primary school children in the UK. So beginning this term five year ...
This is a guest spot by professor Leszek Gąsieniec is the head of the University of Liverpool's Computer Science department.Earlier this year, he used Twitter to support the delivery of a ...
New statistics from KPMG reveal that the current skills shortage has led to the sharpest growth in demand for IT staff in August in more than 15 years. Whilst IT vacancies are increasing year on ...
ITWorks
Can your company donate old hardware for use at Technopop for young people?
Computer Weekly 06 Oct 2014Technopop, is working with techUK, to collect companies hardware for the festival and then donating it to local schools after the event.
ITWorks
Solving the graduate STEM skill shortage: What can we learn from the financial sector?
Computer Weekly 26 Sep 2014A subject of much debate over the last few months, the CBI and many of its members agree that there is a severe shortage of advanced and technical STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) ...
One of the most pressing issues in IT security management today remains the critical shortage of skilled professionals available to address current demands.
Last October, director-general Tony Hall said he wanted the BBC to embrace one big education project a year. In 2014 it is World War One. I'm delighted to announce that in 2015, the BBC's new Make ...
ITWorks
Why the government needs to address its fragmented approach to cyber skills
Computer Weekly 01 Sep 2014Earlier this year, the Department for Business and Innovation (BIS) launched Cyber Essentials, to accredit businesses which meet certain minimum cyber security requirements. The programme makes ...
The UK job market, and in fact the job market across all of EMEA, is in trouble. Despite a growing need by businesses across virtually all industries for IT-savvy employees, the skills young people ...
ITWorks
Computer science student convinces comparethemarket.com to help source hardware
Computer Weekly 14 Aug 201418 year old BTEC IT student James Elmour contacted Computing at School to help with finding hardware for his project where he needed to test Android mobile software applications.
Computer Weekly is pleased to announce a media partnership with the Create! campaign's Appathon competition.
I spoke with Technopop recently about its London festival due to take place over a course of four weeks, in East London.
ITWorks
Proving IT's value in a cloudy world: Widening knowledge and demonstrating value
Computer Weekly 17 Jul 2014We've arrived at a point where most businesses - even the most sensitive - have accepted the role of cloud technology, and have even embraced it. The advantages are trotted out regularly - ...
It's safe to say that the past five years have been an extremely trying time for the UK economy. Since entering recession; Britain has seen industry sectors that were once described as sturdy and ...
ITWorks
Negotiation is the name of the game: How to get the best rates as an IT contractor
Computer Weekly 15 Jun 2014Working for yourself isn't just about being good at what you do, it is also persuading people that you are good at what you do.
I'm also so impressed by the Apps For Good Awards entries, so I was pleased to see that the 18 finalist teams have been announced by the judges.
With so much attention on 'The Year of Code' there has been a huge spotlight placed on those responsible for delivering Computer Science in education, aiming to develop the skills necessary for ...
Codeacademy is opening its first London office, as the firm's free coding skills service sees demand internationally.
ITWorks
The Institution of Engineering and Technology opens awards for nominations
Computer Weekly 18 May 2014The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) is on the hunt for individuals who are making advancements in science, engineering and technology for its annual IET Achievement Awards.
ITWorks
Nesta quiz reveals attitudes on innovation and technological change
Computer Weekly 16 Apr 2014Nesta has published research into Britain's attitudes on innovation and technological change, categorising respondents of its quiz into five personas.
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Why I changed career direction and retrained as a computing teacher
Computer Weekly 04 Apr 2014The launch of the BCS scholarships last year coincided with my decision to re-train as a computing teacher - so it worked out really well for me. Everything lined up at the right time.
If you want to know how the workplace is changing, look no further than the startling results from a recent survey which showed that 62% of IT contractors claim the lack of "office politics" is ...
Mobile payments firm Bango has given the 'Park Street Hacker Elite' coding club £1,000 for equipment, after the children aged seven to nine wrote to the company asking for support.
I finished A-levels a year and a half ago and started a business operations apprenticeship with Fujitsu last July. I haven't looked back since. I would, hand on heart, recommend an apprenticeship ...
I met with Jane Richardson, director of Oracle Academy EMEA, last week who run me through how the academy works and the recent increase in demand from computer science teachers.
I started my apprenticeship with Fujitsu in September 2013, after completing my A-levels in Accountancy, Maths and Economics in May 2013. I applied to become an apprentice as I wanted to train for ...
This week celebrates the seventh year of National Apprenticeship Week, helping to raise the profile of apprenticeships in the UK at a time when many young people are potentially struggling to get ...
Applications for Nominet's 2014 apprenticeship scheme are open again. Now in its fourth year the apprenticeships are aimed at school leavers and are based in the Oxford Science Park.
When I was at college, I was told to apply to university, even though I didn't want to. My college was focused on getting people into university. As it was the norm, the end of the school year came ...
I always really enjoyed IT and knew I wanted to make a career out of it. But, when it came to leaving school, I think the teachers were expecting all the students to go to university and were ...