IT technical skills

Coronavirus: The pandemic’s impact on tech jobs, now and in the future

For some, the coronavirus pandemic has meant furloughs and job losses; for others, it has meant expansion and hiring. What impact has the outbreak had on technology recruitment, and will this carry on into the future? Continue Reading

Computing students achieve high A-level grades despite coronavirus outbreak

Students taking computing at A-level have achieved higher grades than last year despite the uncertainty created by the Covid-19 pandemic Continue Reading

Muslamic Makers launches careers discovery programme

Tech community Muslamic Makers has launched a programme to help Muslim talent develop skills and understand more about digital careers Continue Reading

Looming threat of Covid-19 and IR35 reform conspire to keep contractor confidence dampened

Quarterly data on how confident freelancers feel about their job and earning prospects highlights the negative impact Covid-19 and the government's looming tax reforms are having on the sector Continue Reading

UK lags in AI skills and AI project success

Global study by Microsoft shows that UK organisations have more artificial intelligence projects that deliver zero value than other countries Continue Reading

If you hire foreign IT staff, ‘you’re fired’, Trump tells bosses in government-owned entities

Donald Trump has fired a pre-election warning to government organisations that give IT jobs to workers from overseas Continue Reading

Is the dial shifting for underrepresented groups in the UK’s tech sector?

George Floyd’s death and the resulting Black Lives Matter movement has raised awareness about the disparity in many areas of society, including the tech sector. Many firms claim to be headed for change, but will this change be sustained into the future? Continue Reading

Coronavirus: IT contractors cite lack of government support during Covid-19 as source of stress

ContractorCalculator research highlights the mental health toll the pandemic is taking on IT contractors 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

Diversity in cyber improving but inclusion needs work, says NCSC

Study into diversity and inclusion in the cyber security sector has found that diversity is off to a good start, but inclusion is lacking Continue Reading

Agile adoption still in early stages

Less than a quarter of organisations made it past the step of defining their agile approach while more than half are just getting started, study finds Continue Reading

Amazon to create 1,000 skilled tech roles in Ireland

Retail giant Amazon will be adding several skilled tech roles to its locations in Ireland over the next two years Continue Reading

Storage skills in the age of the cloud and convergence

Storage skills was a discrete area in the IT jobs market, but that’s being eroded by the cloud, hyper-convergence infrastructure, and virtualisation. So, what are the key storage skillsets today? Continue Reading

Digital addiction, digital skills – Computer Weekly Downtime Upload podcast

In this week’s episode of the Computer Weekly Downtime Upload podcast, Caroline Donnelly, Clare McDonald and Brian McKenna discuss digital addiction and business software, digital skills and how Barnardo’s benefited from digital transformation Continue Reading

CTO interview: TransferGo’s Edgardo Savoy discusses skills and product innovation

Improved user experience has opened up tech to many people, but ease of use distances young people from the tech going on under the hood Continue Reading

Tech’s diversity gap: Slow growth for minority groups

Research by the BCS has shown a small percentage in growth of BAME and female individuals in the tech sector, revealing the long climb to diversity the industry still needs to tackle Continue Reading

Investment in neurodiverse talent a win-win for security

Current careers guidance and recruitment processes for security jobs are not working for people with ADHD, autism, dyslexia and dyspraxia, but the problem is fixable with a little attention to detail Continue Reading

‘Future-ready’ attributes key to business resiliency beyond Covid-19, says Vodafone

Social responsibility, sustainability and purpose remain essential as consumers demand clearer commitments, with broadening employer diversity and increasing workplace flexibility key to address growing skill gaps Continue Reading

Lockdown sparks interest in digital skills for 58% of adults

Adults in the UK are becoming increasingly interested in digital skills, with over 80% saying they will become even more important over the next year Continue Reading

Tackling digital skills gap post-pandemic is key to UK economic recovery

We have all – as individuals and businesses – seen the importance of technology to get us through lockdown. Let’s build on that to address the digital skills shortage in the UK Continue Reading

Public sector not considering the elderly in development of digital services

A study by software firm Civica found public sector leaders have admitted to not targeting digital services at those over 70, despite many people this age claiming to use digital technology Continue Reading

Room for improvement in Dutch digital skills

The Netherlands has good telecommunications and IT networks that can be used safely and reliably, but there is room for improvement in digital skills among the Dutch Continue Reading

Ocado hired 300 tech workers over past six months

Online supermarket Ocado has hired a significant number of technology workers over the past six months to cope with coronavirus demand, it announced in its half-year results Continue Reading

Overseas IT directors could need salary of £56,100 to work in the UK

The government has confirmed the salaries it considers as the ‘going rate’ for tech professions, which overseas applicants will need to earn to gain immigration points Continue Reading

Makers announces winners of the 2020 Women in Software Power List

Software training academy Makers has announced the 2020 winners of its annual list of notable women in software development Continue Reading

CISOs undervalued, overworked, burning out, warns CIISec

The vast majority of security professionals say they are under immense pressure, according to a report Continue Reading

NCSC launches pen testing service for remote workers

An expansion to the successful Exercise in a Box toolkit will enable SMEs to probe the cyber security defences of remote workers Continue Reading

INCA calls for added investment in apprenticeships and skills to hit government broadband target

The Independent Networks Cooperative Association welcomes UK government plans to increase investment in workplace training and apprenticeships to address the growing skills shortage in the sector Continue Reading

Cyber4Summer scheme to divert young people from cyber crime

Cyber4Summer platform will offer 100 different tracks covering a range of security skills to divert them from falling into a life of cyber crime Continue Reading

Banks need to think like Google and not just follow it

Banks are recruiting senior thinkers from within the IT sector as digital transformations mature Continue Reading

Voting open for the Most Influential Woman in UK Technology 2020

Submit your vote to tell us who you think should be named the Most Influential Woman in UK Technology for 2020 Continue Reading

The privacy challenges of easing lockdown

In this week’s Computer Weekly, as pubs in the UK re-open after lockdown, we examine the privacy issues around collecting customer data for contact tracing. We look at how interconnected devices are revolutionising the manufacturing and engineering sectors. And we assess GDPR progress two years after its introduction. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Lorca scale-ups bring diverse security to the fore

London Office for Rapid Cybersecurity Advancement announces the cyber security scale-ups that will make up its fifth cohort Continue Reading

TLA launches resource hub for digital skills

Tech London Advocates launches an online hub to provide schools, students and parents with resources to build digital skills Continue Reading

Remote workforce demands ‘hybrid working’, not the end of the office in the ‘better normal’

As lockdowns end, research shows businesses will gradually have to start shifting their focus from purely surviving, yet employees think their desire for hybrid working is out of step with that of their employer Continue Reading

Locked-down teens flock to NCSC CyberFirst training scheme

A record number of 14 to 17-year-olds have signed up to the National Cyber Security Centre’s CyberFirst summer school Continue Reading

Most Influential Women in UK Tech: The 2020 longlist

Each year, during its search for influential women in UK technology, Computer Weekly asks the tech industry to nominate who it thinks should be considered for the top 50 – here is the longlist for 2020 Continue Reading

UK’s unsung cyber security heroes sought

Nominations have opened for the fifth annual Security Serious Unsung Heroes Awards Continue Reading

Equity in STEM education more important than ever, says Parliamentary group

All-Party Parliamentary Group on Diversity and Inclusion in STEM suggests recommendations for increasing equity in education after stating coronavirus makes diversity increasingly important Continue Reading

Fund provides routes into digital for under-represented groups in Manchester and Lancashire

£3m fund is being used to help businesses and residents gain digital skills Continue Reading

Standard Chartered embarks on virtual internship programme

Bank offers 300 candidates virtual placements on internship programme Continue Reading

CBI: UK needs an immigration and training rethink

For the UK to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, vast swathes of the population will need retraining – and overseas IT specialists will also be needed Continue Reading

Diversity in coding bootcamps

Coding bootcamp operators must actively engage with issues of access, diversity and inclusion if they want to stop reproducing the same gendered, racialised and class-based outcomes the tech sector keeps promising to address Continue Reading

IT services giant gives staff time out to volunteer for police clients

IT services company CGI responds to Met Police call by offering its staff the opportunity to take 11 days paid leave to volunteer their time Continue Reading

Making the most of coding bootcamps

Computer Weekly explores how aspiring developers can make the most of coding bootcamps, with a focus on how to avoid being duped by a programme that promises more than it can deliver Continue Reading

Why IT needs to align with people

IT has always strived to align with the business, but recent research has found that users are struggling to take on tech innovations Continue Reading

Neurodiversity on the rise among career hackers

More diverse hackers enhance the ability of both traditional and cutting-edge cyber security solutions to find and fix vulnerabilities, according to a new report from Bugcrowd Continue Reading

BT searches for Young Pioneer as part of AbilityNet Tech4Good Awards

BT sponsors Young Pioneer Award category as part of the AbilityNet Tech4Good Awards to hear from young people who want to improve lives by using tech Continue Reading

Coronavirus: Parliamentary group asks how lockdown has affected digital skills

All Party Parliamentary Group on Digital Skills launches call to action to find out if lessons learnt in lockdown could help build digital skills policy in the future Continue Reading

Santander to recruit 3,000 more IT staff

Spanish bank to recruit a further 3,000 tech staff globally to accelerate its digital transformation Continue Reading

CogX 2020: Rethinking technological innovation

Innovation processes and relationships must be fundamentally restructured to bring in more stakeholders, and spread the benefits of technological change as far as possible Continue Reading

Berlin breaks the national mould to become a global hub

German capital is attracting tech startups from across the world as it cements its position as a leading European hub Continue Reading

Cyber security needs more women role models, says report

A report compiled by security assurance organisation Crest highlights the progress made on gender diversity in cyber security, and offers pointers for next steps Continue Reading

Debbie Forster, most influential woman in UK tech 2019 - winner’s speech

In this video of Computer Weekly’s annual diversity event Debbie Forster, CEO of the Tech Talent Charter, gives her acceptance speech as the 2019 Most Influential Woman in UK Tech Continue Reading

Digital transformation held back by lack of skilled people

Veeam survey finds digital transformation a hot topic, but 44% of firms are held back by skills shortages. Meanwhile, the cost of downtime is found to be $67,651 per hour for the most important apps Continue Reading

Egypt offers free tech scholarship to 100,000 citizens

Egypt's youths are being offered free training to help them to prepare for the careers of the future Continue Reading

Former Sage boss becomes chairman of Tech Nation

After five years as chair of Tech Nation, Eileen Burbidge has stepped down. Replacing her is Stephen Kelly, who says he wants to support the next generation of tech scaleups Continue Reading

The impact of spycraft on how we secure our data

The history of cyber security owes much to the world of espionage, as a recent, pre-lockdown Science Museum exhibition showed 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

Makers decides shortlist for Women in Software Powerlist 2020

Software engineering academy Makers has released the shortlist of candidates for its annual Women in Software Powerlist, from which the winners will be selected Continue Reading

One-third of all bank jobs are now tech-related

The proportion of jobs in banks that are technology-related is growing quickly, accelerated further by the Covid-19 pandemic Continue Reading

How effective security training goes deeper than ‘awareness’

Cyber criminals are constantly developing their techniques and strategies, so security training needs to do the same Continue Reading

Nominations open for Most Influential Women in UK Technology 2020

Computer Weekly is looking for nominations for its 2020 list of the most influential women in UK technology Continue Reading

Security Think Tank: Burnt out CISOs are a huge cyber risk

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

Security Think Tank: Create healthy habits to avoid burnout

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

Pair programming pros and cons for network automation

Pair programming is an Agile software development technique that reduces bugs and produces better software. Can pair programming work between networking experts and programmers? Continue Reading

Security Think Tank: CISOs must adapt to fight Covid-19 burnout

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

NCSC tackles unconscious bias in security terminology

The terms whitelisting and blacklisting are out at the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre Continue Reading

Coronavirus: How to cope with the digital skills divide

Since the Covid-19 pandemic started, employers need tech and digital talent more than ever. But how can organisations recruit and train the skills they need during a lockdown? Continue Reading

Security Think Tank: How to manage security team well-being

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

Cyber security skills courses go online during pandemic

The government is turning to online learning to find the next generation of cyber security talent Continue Reading

IBM celebrates quantum cloud fourth anniversary with coding challenge

IBM has set four tasks for programmers to try out on its cloud-based quantum computer, in a bid to widen quantum coding skills Continue Reading

Scottish Tech Army seeks out IT experts to combat Covid-19

Tech workers who find themselves out of work are being asked to volunteer their time to help build digital technology to support coronavirus efforts Continue Reading

Coronavirus: Remote working and mental health

As many of us are now working from home due to the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak, while also trying to juggle other responsibilities alongside increased anxiety, how can we make sure that we’re looking after our mental health? Continue Reading

Mainframe skills surge as lockdown drives transaction growth

Mainframe skills and Cobol programming are now in demand as enterprises scale up to tackle increased online activity due to the coronavirus Continue Reading

IR35 private sector reforms: Treasury ignores sub-committee’s plea to delay April 2021 start date

Despite the Finance Bill Sub-Committee claiming it would argue for the IR35 reforms to be delayed even if there were no pandemic, HM Treasury remains committed to revised April 2021 roll-out date Continue Reading

Coronavirus: Security certification body puts exams online

Candidates for certification by the International Association of Privacy Professionals will now be able to sit their exams remotely Continue Reading

Booking.com celebrates women in tech with annual awards

Booking.com has announced the winners of its 2020 Technology Playmaker Awards, an annual recognition of female talent launched in 2017 Continue Reading

Coronavirus: Amazon warehouse workers strike over concerns about workplace safety and protections

Online retail giant Amazon has been hit by a wave of strikes as workers protest against ‘unsafe working conditions’ and ‘corporate inaction’ during the pandemic Continue Reading

Coronavirus: Bradford University graduates rework NHS portals

Media design & technology graduates from university’s Working Academy are helping the NHS in Bradford manage patients and clinicians Continue Reading

BCS calls for IT recognition in coronavirus response

Campaign launched by BCS aims to recognise the importance of IT staff in keeping UK workers connected during the coronavirus crisis Continue Reading

Business data science teams need to be multi-disciplined, says Trainline

Sam Taylor, head of data science at Trainline, says four years of team building points to a need to be multi-disciplinary in pursuit of delivering value for customers Continue Reading

Coronavirus: STEM Women runs virtual graduate careers fairs for female STEM grads

Recruitment agency STEM Women is running weekly online careers fairs for female graduates to help them connect with potential employers while social distancing measures are in place Continue Reading

IR35 reforms: Chancellor slammed for dig at self-employed tax habits during coronavirus briefing

Rishi Sunak under fire for making a veiled reference to self-employed people needing to pay their “fair share of tax” during the government’s daily coronavirus update Continue Reading

Coronavirus: IT contractors ‘left stranded’ by exclusion from support for self-employed

IT contractors who provide services through their own limited companies will not be able to access government scheme to support self-employed through coronavirus outbreak Continue Reading

Coronavirus: iFixit builds resource to support medical technicians

Mobile phone DIY repair site is building on the work of Frank’s Hospital Workshop to help medtechs repair ventilators Continue Reading

IR35 private sector reforms: Coronavirus prompts calls for fairer deal for self-employed IT workers

ContractorCalculator CEO Dave Chaplin says the deferral of the IR35 reforms should be upgraded to a cancellation, as the response of employers to coronavirus highlights glaring inequalities between treatment of inside IR35 contractors and employees Continue Reading

IR35 private sector reforms: Coronavirus prompts Treasury to delay start date to April 2021

HM Treasury confirms roll-out of IR35 reforms to the private sector will be halted for a year to ease the pressure on businesses in the face of the coronavirus outbreak Continue Reading

Malaysia’s digital transformation efforts progress

Malaysian enterprises are taking steps to modernise their infrastructure, but many are still grappling with the lack of niche IT skills in key emerging technologies such as the internet of things Continue Reading

UK’s security sector failing on most diversity measures

A DCMS report on the state of the UK’s cyber security workforce highlights a huge lack of diversity and a substantial skills gap Continue Reading

Security pros just want to be loved, report finds

Being valued by the business for their role in keeping the organisation safe and upholding ethical standards is a primary motivator for CISOs and other security professionals Continue Reading

Schoolgirl security experts prepare to do battle

The finals of the CyberFirst Girls contest will take place on 16 March as the culmination of the NCSC’s annual competition to unearth future security talent Continue Reading

Three network technologies driven by cloud-native computing

Networking technologies are being driven heavily by digitisation and cloud computing. Gartner picks three networking trends to watch Continue Reading

Winners announced for the 2020 FDM everywoman in Technology awards

Women’s network everywoman has announced the winners of the 2020 everywoman in Technology Awards, sponsored by FDM Continue Reading

IR35 tribunal sees Nationwide project manager lose £70,000 tax bill appeal to HMRC

IR35 tribunal judge concludes working relationship between two parties is one of employment, with project manager Robert Lee described as ‘part and parcel’ of Nationwide’s organisation Continue Reading

Ansible limitations for network automation

Ansible can be a powerful tool for network automation, but users should be aware of its limitations with debugging, performance, complex data structures and control flow. Continue Reading

Long, dark winters contribute to Finland’s advantage in video game development

Finland and Southern California are worlds apart at first glance, but both are leaders in video game development. We find out why. Continue Reading

Hidden cost of cloud puts brakes on migration projects

Lack of skills and complexities in rebuilding software for the cloud are among the main factors inhibiting cloud success Continue Reading

Finland launches free AI skills course for EU citizens as presidency parting gift

Finland is making a course in basic artificial intelligence available to citizens of all European Union countries Continue Reading