CW Jobs have released their latest report on the evolution of tech jobs beyond London, exploring how the Northern Powerhouse rivals London for the best tech talent.
The report finds the IT and technology industry in the North of England is now worth over £9.9 billion a year to the UK Economy[1]. According to Dominic Harvey, CW Jobs “Cheaper operating costs and an advancing infrastructure have helped to attract several large companies, including the BBC, Channel 4, and HMRC. And international giants such as booking.com are also investing in the region[2], bringing ever varied employment opportunities for those working in the sector.”
The government established the Northern Powerhouse initiative in 2015, with the aim to boost the local economy by investing in skills, innovation, transport and culture. This initiative along with other factors have contributed to Manchester becoming the shining beacon of the Northern Powerhouse, with the report finding 71% decision-makers based in the North of England saying their organisation is increasingly hiring talent from the city. However, recruitment is tough and many are discussing this very topic to establish the best way forward.
As the trade body for digital and tech businesses in Greater Manchester, Manchester Digital members look to the organisation to provide solutions for the region’s skills shortage. As well as tackling the early stage pipeline through its Level Four Software Development Apprenticeship, and its talent and skills provisions Digital Futures and Digital Her, it’s also Manchester Digital’s responsibility to profile the businesses and opportunities that exist within the region in the hope of attracting not only investment and new companies but also the talent needed to encourage further growth.
Michael Palmer, Digital Marketing Manager states “By setting up #RelocateMCR, we want to tell the stories of people that have made the decision to move to Manchester to further their careers whilst enjoying the fantastic quality of life that’s on offer within our city and its surrounding boroughs. As record numbers of people are leaving London for Manchester, we use #RelocateMCR to catch up with them and hear what inspired their move and how it’s gone.
We also use the platform to share stories that highlight why Greater Manchester is a brilliant place to live, and also articles on things such as cost of living statistics that will come in handy for anyone considering moving to Manchester.”
Initiatives such as #RelocateMCR and others will undoubtedly support the movement of talent, and although London still remains the UK’s major tech hub, research from respondents in the Northern cities has shown that “nearly two thirds (64%) believe that the region can rival London as the leading UK IT and technology hub”.
Jon Musgrave, Regional Director at Head Resourcing states “The rapidly accelerating growth of the city of Manchester was a key reason for us opening our office in April 2018. The skills shortages mentioned are a huge inhibitor however and we need to be looking at creative ways to attract and retain talent to support businesses to achieve their strategic objectives. Skills shortages are not new and we must collaborate across the industry to increase the pipeline of talent and fulfil the ever increasing demand for difficult to find technical skills.”
Manchester is the place to be to enjoy a fantastic career with a great work-life balance!
If you’re looking for your next opportunity why not get in touch with the Manchester team on north@headresourcing.com or 0161 509 3021, we have a great range of IT, Digital and Business Change roles we’d love to discuss with you!
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