Opinion

Opinion

IT jobs and recruitment

• Chartered status and aligned standards are crucial for the UK's cyber sector

  As the UK moves closer to ushering in the world’s first chartered cyber professionals, the UK Cyber Security Council’s Simon Hepburn outlines the sector’s defining moment  Continue Reading

• Why robots will make work more human

  Smart technology should be about making people’s lives easier, freeing them up for judgement-based tasks and giving them the data and information they need for smart decision-making  Continue Reading

• Redundancies – are tech companies getting it right?

  With recession now a reality, big tech companies have started slimming down their workforces, but they have legal responsibilities  Continue Reading

• Three million empty seats: What can we do about the cyber skills shortage?

  Companies should look for candidates with the right skills potential, rather than insist they tick a hundred different security skills boxes  Continue Reading

• More women in tech will bridge the skills gap and bolster growth

  Large global technology firms will reach nearly 33% overall female representation in their workforces in 2022. Growth is slow, but heading in the right direction  Continue Reading

• Fewer CIOs have a seat on the board but we still need technology leaders

  This democratisation of technology still needs a leader, but it’s a healthy sign that discussion of tech has become part of business as usual at board level  Continue Reading

• How to maximise tech recruitment in an uncertain and unpredictable market 

  Six tips for employers to maximise your chances of securing the IT talent you need  Continue Reading

• Artificial intelligence in the workplace

  When AI systems are used, there is an obligation to consider how they might affect fairness, accountability and transparency in the workplace  Continue Reading

• IR35 reforms repeal: How it stands to benefit the tech sector’s SMEs and contractors

  Government’s planned repeal of IR35 reforms could help alleviate a lot of the uncertainty and pressure on the tech sector’s SMEs  Continue Reading

• Where are all the technologists? Talent shortages and what to do about them

  It’s harder than ever to recruit good IT specialists, but there are some simple strategies for digital leaders to fill gaps in their teams  Continue Reading

• We’re all technologists now – the powerful impact of low-code platforms

  Low-code platforms are bringing a shift in how organisations develop and use technology – and it’s the job of the CIO to let it happen in a controlled, secure and connected fashion  Continue Reading

• Governance and progression of AI in the UK

  Artificial intelligence and machine learning are essential to growth in the global digital economy, and the UK has ambitions to lead the way  Continue Reading

• We must target a broad church to fill vacant cyber roles

  The security industry focuses a lot on cyber-specific specialisms and technical skills, but it could really benefit from widening its search. Take it from a social anthropologist  Continue Reading

• Revised scope of UK security strategy reflects digitised society

  The omission of the word ‘security’ from the title of the UK government’s new National Cyber Strategy is a telling one, reflecting our increasingly digitised society, say Maximillian Brook and Arunoshi Singh of the ISF  Continue Reading

• Security Think Tank: Building the cyber workforce we need

  The UK’s new National Cyber Strategy is clear in its ambitions, but to fulfil them, we must double down on appropriate skills development, says ISACA director Mike Hughes  Continue Reading

• Why we need to keep up the charge on women in tech

  With hybrid working allowing people into technology jobs regardless of their gender, ethnicity or background, we need to support and encourage this more flexible way of working to ensure it continues  Continue Reading

• The UK’s cyber security sector is thriving, but our work has only just begun

  The government’s Annual Cyber Sector Report painted a positive picture of the UK security industry. CIISec’s Amanda Finch thinks we can go further in developing cyber talent and opening up the sector  Continue Reading

• Five key tech trends for digital leaders in 2022

  The past two years have seen a surge in investment that will bring new challenges to digital leaders over the next year  Continue Reading

• How apprenticeships are helping bridge the digital skills gap

  Apprenticeships are not only for young people – they can help make IT departments more diverse and inclusive, as well as plugging skills gaps, as DWP Digital has proved  Continue Reading

• The way we talk and think about tech is crucial to helping solve the skills shortage crisis

  Companies are looking to short-term fixes to find IT specialists, but there is still a need for long-term solutions  Continue Reading

• Lessons from Lisbon: Reflections on a week at Web Summit

  Russ Shaw, founder and CEO of Tech London Advocates and Global Tech Advocates, assesses the key takeaways of Web Summit 2021  Continue Reading

• Watching me, watching you – challenging the rise of digital surveillance at work

  Unprecedented levels of digital monitoring at work is embedding a culture of surveillance, despite workers’ opposition to the practices, says Prospect Union  Continue Reading

• Reaching the data gold standard: dream or reality?

  The pandemic has forced businesses to adopt digital technology at a record pace but most organisations find themselves at the beginning of a long journey towards making the most of their data  Continue Reading

• New strategies needed to close the cyber security skills gap

  Teaching cyber security in schools is a long-term solution to a present-day problem  Continue Reading

• Britain needs its amazing migrants

  Fintech entrepreneur Michael Kent explains why Britain needs migrants and why government policy and media horror stories will damage the UK’s economy and reputation  Continue Reading

• Will the end of furlough help fill tech vacancies?

  The closure of the government’s furlough scheme may not help the tech sector fill the most technical vacancies, but it could bolster available talent for the longer term  Continue Reading

• Is tech team remuneration opening up a new form of cyber risk?

  Failing to reward cyber security staff in line with increases for other members of the tech team could open up new risks to organisations  Continue Reading

• The secret to building a future-proof cyber security team

  In a post-pandemic digital world, where cyber criminals see a feast of opportunities, what are the secrets to building a world-class cyber security function?  Continue Reading

• How CIOs can help their organisations accelerate digital transformation

  Companies need to win the trust of their customers to gather the data they need to transform their businesses  Continue Reading

• It’s time to hit fast forward for digital jobs

  With huge numbers of people left unemployed by the pandemic, and continuing skills gaps in technology, now is the time to start joining dots and helping more people into long-term tech careers  Continue Reading

• Shaping a Digital Strategy to support UK productivity and jobs

  With an all-party parliamentary group calling for evidence on digital skills, there are three key areas that policymakers should address    Continue Reading

• Digital bootcamp initiative could kickstart new thinking about technology skills

  The government’s digital bootcamps initiative could help begin to shift the way we think about the roles of technology professionals  Continue Reading

• London needs a mayor of growth

  Here East’s CEO Gavin Poole on why the next mayor must ensure London remains the tech capital of Europe, and the importance of learning from the past  Continue Reading

• Tech firms need to keep focusing on mental wellbeing and support

  Mental wellbeing is a critical issue for the tech sector as the pandemic has taken its toll, and employers are realising the importance of providing support to their staff  Continue Reading

• Employees must be given the right to disconnect

  As enterprises increasingly turn to workplace monitoring technologies and more of the workforce moves to remote or hybrid working, unions are campaigning for workers’ ‘right to disconnect’ and not engage in digitally enabled work after hours  Continue Reading

• Reimagining outsourcing after Covid-19

  Covid-19 has changed how businesses interact with their suppliers. Here are five steps companies can take to manage their outsourcing ecosystem in the post-pandemic world  Continue Reading

• Why it’s fantastic to be a woman in the technology sector (and what’s stopping more from joining)

  The enforced move by many employers to flexible home working during the pandemic is challenging the culture of long hours in the office – and opening up new opportunities for women in tech  Continue Reading

• Could ambiguous rules spur IT personnel offshoring bonanza?

  Could the combination of Brexit and ambiguous rules on recruitment enable businesses to hire IT staff from overseas to carry out work remotely?  Continue Reading

• Fixing the cracks in public sector digital infrastructure

  The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the flaws in the UK's digital government set-up. The appointment of new IT leadership presents an ideal opportunity for the government to fix them  Continue Reading

• SMEs poised to reap tech and agility advantage in wake of Covid-19

  The UK’s small and medium-sized businesses have, in some respects, reacted more nimbly to Covid-19 than larger organisations. As a result, they have put themselves in a better position to take advantage of growth opportunities  Continue Reading

• How to write an executive CV for IT leadership jobs

  Knowing how to write an IT executive CV requires a deep knowledge and skillset that not everyone has. Find out how to set yourself apart from the competition  Continue Reading

• Top 10 skills to include in your IT CV

  Find out what skills and keywords you should include on your CV to stand out as an IT professional in a competitive market  Continue Reading

• Tech executives need new skills to lead in a remote world

  After helping organisations adapt to new ways of working during the Covid-19 pandemic, IT leaders worldwide are now enjoying greater influence, according to this year’s Harvey Nash/KPMG CIO Survey  Continue Reading

• Digital leaders and the widening divide

  This year’s Harvey Nash/KPMG CIO Survey shows a widening of the digital business divide, with companies that have already adopted digital technologies more likely to accelerate those investments than those still in the planning stage  Continue Reading

• How to acquire and keep your IT skills up to date

  Little, often and varied study is the key to keeping your IT skills up to date in an industry that is constantly changing  Continue Reading

• How the chancellor’s Plan for Jobs could benefit the UK tech sector

  Technology has a strong role to play in the UK’s recovery, with Rishi Sunak’s Plan for Jobs offering opportunities for the sector  Continue Reading

• What women can do for data and what data can do for women

  For her work during wartime, Florence Nightingale is remembered as a founding giant of British statistics. Those who follow in her footsteps are using data to tackle the greatest health challenge of our time  Continue Reading

• The new future of work

  We may come to stop talking about ‘remote’ working altogether after the coronavirus pandemic. It could become just ‘working’ – part of the normal mix of how things are done  Continue Reading

• Security Think Tank: CISO stress – moving from recognition to action

  Cyber criminals are enjoying a boom during the Covid-19 pandemic, and security teams are working overtime as a result. How can security professionals manage their increased workload, safeguard their mental well-being and avoid burnout?  Continue Reading

• Post-pandemic, automation will kill jobs – here’s why you should be happy about it

  A likely reaction to the coronavirus pandemic is greater automation, which will replace human labour. But this will be a good thing – after all, the tractor doesn’t mean we have nothing else to do outside the farm  Continue Reading

• Coronavirus: What does the ‘new normal’ mean for how we work?

  Examining the long-term impact of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic on the world of work, security, privacy and networks  Continue Reading

• Making apprenticeships do more than just work

  Better use of apprentices, and further reform to the apprenticeship levy, will be key to continuing the impressive growth rate of the UK’s digital economy  Continue Reading

• Liberal Democrats: We want to lead the world in ethical, inclusive technology

  Layla Moran, Liberal Democrat MP and party spokesperson for digital, culture, media and sport, writes about the party's technology policies ahead of the upcoming General Election  Continue Reading

• Life under the loan charge: An IT contractor’s story

  Thousands of IT contractors are being pursued by HMRC for “life-changing” tax bills for work they did up to 20 years ago, as part of a disguised remuneration clampdown known as the loan charge policy. One of those affected anonymously shares his ...  Continue Reading

• Businesses need to keep investing in tech and hope to avoid a no-deal Brexit

  A no-deal Brexit could have serious consequences for the UK tech sector and skills base, making it more difficult to recruit technology specialists and hire freelancers  Continue Reading

• Would you trust a criminal with your cyber security?

  Several industry sectors have set a good example by hiring ex-offenders, and the cyber security industry could benefit in similar ways by looking at members of the hacker community  Continue Reading

• Will artificial intelligence be a recruiter’s new best friend?

  AI and machine learning are being introduced into corporate recruitment to save time and money, but employers need to understand the legal risks  Continue Reading

• Opening a path into a tech career for anyone

  The technology sector needs new talent and must get better at appealing to people at all stages of their life and career  Continue Reading

• Gender diversity is failing in tech: how can we turn it around?

  Todays technology organisations need innovative thinking, communication, relationship building, influencing and listening – skills that a lot of women possess in abundance. Yet employers frequently advertise jobs in ways that unwittingly deter ...  Continue Reading

• An IR35 survival guide for employers and contractors

  Forthcoming changes to IR35 regulations will affect most private sector companies using IT contractors – so what do you need to do to prepare?  Continue Reading

• Want a 200% pay rise? If you do, let the robots do all the work

  One of the newest Nobel economists has a theory, and if it's correct we'll all be in for a huge salary increase when the robots take over  Continue Reading

• Bridging the gender pay gap in the technology industry

  Publication of gender pay gap figures for large organisations shows the tech sector has a long way to go to back up its rhetoric about equal opportunities  Continue Reading

• Big data skills shortages – and how to work around them

  Businesses are finding it hard to recruit enough people with big data and analytics skills, but for CIOs there are alternative strategies to consider  Continue Reading

• Tier 2 visas – a challenge for the tech sector

  With staff shortages already being reported in the technology sector and Brexit potentially adding to the problem, tech departments need to get their Tier 2 visa applications right  Continue Reading

• A strong UK-India bond on tech can benefit us all

  The UK tech sector can benefit from the government’s work to forge closer ties with India’s burgeoning digital economy  Continue Reading

• Blockchain: Paving the way for broad adoption

  The foundations have been laid for organisations to begin standardising on the technology, talent and platforms that will drive future blockchain initiatives  Continue Reading

• How the IT sector can help plug the cyber security skills gap

  Businesses have a role to play in plugging the cyber security skills gap by engaging with future talent at a young age, providing more role models for under-represented groups, communicating the nature of the threat, and changing their approach to ...  Continue Reading

• Diversity matters – International Women’s Day 2018

  The tech sector has a poor reputation for workplace diversity - if we are to take advantage of the opportunities of the digital economy, this has to change  Continue Reading

• Apprenticeship reforms are driving tech sector skills success

  Apprenticeships and skills minister Anne Milton says apprenticeships are a great way to make sure the tech industry has the skills it needs  Continue Reading

• We must avoid the Brexit risks to London's tech community

  London's chief digital officer warns of the risks to jobs, innovation and investment if the UK pursues a hard Brexit when leaving the EU  Continue Reading

• Why CryptoKitties shows the future of humanity in the robot age

  Spending millions on blockchain-based cat collectibles might seem trivial, but it explains why economists aren’t worried about robots taking all our jobs  Continue Reading

• How to boost your personal brand as an IT professional

  Seven steps to help you build a personal brand in the workplace, articulate the value you provide and build your professional reputation  Continue Reading

• Opinion: Why the UK’s visa expansion is important to the tech sector

  Following the government’s decision to expand the UK’s visa scheme for overseas talent, home secretary Amber Rudd tells Computer Weekly why this will help the UK tech sector  Continue Reading

• Robots will transform, not replace, human work

  Claims that robots will steal our jobs are commonplace – but humans will find themselves working side by side with robots, rather than being replaced by them  Continue Reading

• Technology, society and morality: the implications for technology leaders

  Technology is evolving at a pace and scale that has never been experienced. Society is struggling to keep up with the social and moral implications  Continue Reading

• Why IT education is failing

  There are a plethora of UK IT educational projects and initiatives but no focus or urgency to channel the energy of teachers, says entrepreneur, Rick Chandler.  Continue Reading

• The importance of mutual understanding: A faster track to business alignment and satisfied users

  The benefits of a service-centric approach to IT tend to come back to IT in numerous ways - users are happier, the business functions more effectively, and in return IT tends to receive both more funding and freedom to develop, writes Andrew Buss, ...  Continue Reading

• Action is the deal on Naked Leader's blog

  The Deal is the latest blog to launch on ComputerWeekly.com - and one with a twist. David Taylor, author of The Naked Leader, said, "My blog won't be about discussion and debate, but about action."  Continue Reading

• How to win the jobs game

  Many readers have been disappointed by recruitment agents. All the more reason to develop the relationship  Continue Reading

• Demand more from agencies: fine tune the recruitment process and reap the rewards

  Users must be proactive in ensuring that recommended candidates are suitable  Continue Reading