May 2024 - Update on UK Visa Information

Navigating the UK's visa regulations can be challenging, but staying informed is crucial. Here’s an update on key visa categories:

Skilled Worker Visa

The Skilled Worker Visa, replacing the Tier 2 General Visa, now covers a wider range of occupations. To qualify, applicants need a job offer from a licensed sponsor and must meet the English language requirement. This visa is an excellent opportunity for skilled professionals looking to establish themselves in the UK job market.

Graduate Visa

This visa allows international students to remain in the UK for two years after completing their studies (three years for doctoral graduates). This period can be used to gain work experience or look for employment without the need for a sponsor.

Global Talent Visa

Designed for highly skilled individuals in fields such as science, engineering, and digital technology, the Global Talent Visa does not require a job offer. It’s ideal for leaders and potential leaders in academia, research, arts, and digital technology.

Health and Care Visa

A streamlined process tailored for eligible health professionals with a job offer from the NHS, an NHS supplier, or in adult social care. This visa aims to bolster the UK’s healthcare sector by attracting qualified professionals.

Sponsorship and Application Process

For those needing visa sponsorship, MA Visas offers comprehensive support. Our team of experts will guide you through the application process, ensuring you meet all requirements and deadlines.

Steps to Apply

1. Assessment: Evaluate which visa category suits your situation.

2. Documentation: Gather necessary documents, such as job offers, qualifications, and proof of English proficiency.

3. Application: Submit your application through the official UK government portal.

4. Guidance: Our team will support you throughout the process, from preparing your documents to submitting your application and beyond.

Stay Informed

Visa regulations can change, so it’s essential to stay updated. MA Visas is here to provide you with the latest information and personalized assistance.

For detailed guidance and support with your visa application, visit our website or contact our team of experts.

Stay tuned for more updates and ensure your journey to the UK is as smooth as possible.

The 10 Most Demanded Tech Jobs in 2021

The coronavirus pandemic has impacted the business ecosystem not only in digital acceleration, but in the way organizations develop their talent in the face of new labor needs.

The 2021 Remuneration Study made by the recruitment company for managerial and executive positions Michael Page , the search for talent with digital and technological skills has increased 20% since the health emergency began.

Companies have had to reinvent themselves, retrain their people and step on the accelerator to digitize their processes, optimize their resources and strengthen their cybersecurity . In this transition they require new talent with technological and digital skills.

Next, we present the most demanded positions of this type:

Head of Growth or Chief Growth Officer (CGO) for Marketing

In marketing, this position is responsible for managing, developing the strategy and executing it for the acquisition of new users, through programs and channels with paid media. Perform A / B tests, and create analysis and reporting systems that allow you to optimize each resource.

Head of Growth or Chief Growth Officer (CGO) for business growth

This role also helps the growth and development of all areas of the business with planning and strategic business thinking. He helps lead the expansion plans for the market and shape the plan for the launch of new services, while ensuring strong coordination with government relations, marketing and technology teams along the way.

Head of Product

This position designs and manages product launch development, prioritizing business and market needs. Leads the organization of digital products. He is responsible for creating a vision and strategy for the entire digital products organization.

E-commerce Manager

It is a position that plans, designs, executes and controls the online sales process to achieve the profitability of said sales channel. You are also responsible for knowing your target market to reach them through digital strategies that increase sales in the e-commerce channel.

Open Source Developer

Open source software specialist, capable of programming based on the DNA of each platform or computer application. Your job is to create source codes that establish how a certain computer program should behave and what functions it can perform.

Network Engineer or Connectivity and Network Engineer

He is a professional with extensive knowledge in computing, telecommunications, network security and management of modern information techniques. Its job is to design, configure, implement and manage communication networks.

Security Engineer or Security Engineer

He is a professional who is responsible for designing computer systems to prevent or counteract malicious cyber attacks or hacking attempts. They monitor networks and systems for security breaches or intrusions.

Head of Supply Chain or Supply Chain Director

Professional responsible for managing the flow of goods, data and finances that involve a product or service. Supervises from the acquisition of raw materials to the delivery of the product to its final destination.

Procurement Head

Professional responsible for business functions, such as purchasing planning, inventory control, traffic, receiving, incoming inspection, and salvage operations.

Chief Information Officer or Director of Technology

It is who is in charge of monitoring all the technological processes of a company. It guides the information systems, the objective of the organization, and includes growth plans and strategies to follow to meet that objective.

Almost half of firms looking to recruit tech workers

Many professionals claim their firms are actively seeking workers for tech-based roles, finds CWJobs and techUK

Almost half of firms are looking for talent to fill tech roles, according to research by techUK and CWJobs

As part of their newly launched monthly Tech Jobs Barometer, jobs board CWJobs and industry body techUK found that 45% of professionals asked claimed their company is looking for tech talent.

Antony Walker, Deputy CEO of techUK, said: “Amidst the global pandemic we know that technology and tech-enabled jobs are sustaining the economy, as well as providing the key to our economic recovery.

“The Tech Jobs Barometer will look at job adverts which allow employers to express their skill needs and highlight the number of opportunities the industry has, and techUK is committed to ensuring these opportunities are open to all,” he said. “This will mean not only ensuring individuals have the right skills to thrive in the future world of work but also that they have the motivation and enthusiasm to create their digital future.”

The uncertainty of the coronavirus outbreak caused a knock-on effect for tech hiring in many cases, with the beginning of the first lockdown in March 2020 initially having a negative affect on job seekers before hiring picked up again towards the end of the year.

But despite the coronavirus outbreak, CWJobs saw 224,000 tech jobs posted on its site across 2020, as well as a 25% increase in demand for tech talent in June 2020 when compared to the previous month.

Outside of the CWJobs/techUK research, the Recruitment and Employment Federation found an increase in IT job adverts in July 2020, where active job postings of all types across the UK reached a peak of more than one million, and Tech Nation also reported a 36% increase in tech job vacancies posted between June and August 2020.

  • When looking into the language of its job adverts, telecoms firm Openreach found that half of female candidates were put off if the language of a job posting was too unconsciously male.

  • IT job applications tend to look for skills in particular technologies, but for some tech roles, life skills and worldly experience are equally important.

With many suggesting technology will play a role in the UK’s recovery post-pandemic, tech skills are as important as ever, with many working on their digital skills during lockdown, and some expressing an interest in shifting into the tech field.

Almost 40% of employees asked said general IT skills were the type of skills most needed to succeed in the tech sector.

Dominic Harvey, Director at CWJobs, said: “As more companies move towards transforming into virtual organisations, increased learning, retraining, and upskilling will offer a continuous and lifelong journey for employees. Tapping into the pipeline of existing and future tech talent will help alleviate the skills gap and ensure the British tech jobs market will remain agile and robust throughout 2021 and beyond.”

But the UK is still suffering from a tech skills gap – more than 60% of business execs in the UK claimed their businesses do not have the tech talent for delivering their digital strategy, with skills such as cloud, cyber security, IT support and artificial intelligence all among the most in-demand skills of 2020.

Throughout last year, CWJobs found the job role with the highest number of applications was business analyst.

Java developer and IT support engineer also saw a large number of applications on the platform, and most of the top 10 job roles advertised on the platform were centred around software development.

Java developer, .NET developer, front-end developer and software developer were all among the top 10 most advertised job roles in 2020 on CWJobs, as well as DevOps engineer, full stack developer and PHP developer, with coding and web design/UX also among last year’s most in demand skills.

Article Source: Almost half of firms looking to recruit tech workers (computerweekly.com)

UK tech jobs surpass pre-pandemic levels, despite rising unemployment

The IT sector employed about 1.6 million people in Q4 2020, versus 1.5 million in Q4 2019

UK tech jobs surpass pre-pandemic levels despite high unemployment rate in other sectors

The UK's IT job market continued to recruit strongly in 2020, despite overall UK unemployment rising to a five-year high of 5.1 per cent.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the number of 'information and communication' jobs in country has surpassed pre-pandemic levels, with more individuals employed in the sector than at any time in its history.

Nearly 1.6 million people had roles in Britain's tech sector in Q4 2020, up from 1.5 million in Q2. The IT industry has created more than 100,000 jobs since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, and more than 300,000 jobs over the last three years.

The ONS data shows which areas of the tech industry are performing particularly well. For example, public infrastructure cloud recorded 33 per cent growth in the past 12 months, and personal computer sales also increased. In contrast, the enterprise data centre space performed poorly.

ONS has maintained tech sector employment records since 1997, when around 743,000 people were employed in the space.

Given its dependence on cloud-based services and collaboration platforms, and because of the growing need for cyber security products in the remote working era, analysts expect the UK tech sector to continue to grow

Around two-thirds of the UK's tech leaders will seek to increase their teams in the Q1 2021, according to a recent Harvey Nash/KPMG CIO survey. Data scientists, data analysts and individuals with AI and cyber skills are in particularly high demand. The market for software developers is also growing.

Despite encouraging figures in the tech sector, the ONS data also shows that the UK unemployment rate rose to 5.1 per cent in Q4 2020: its highest in nearly five years.

The number of people in paid employment shrank by more than 500,000 through 2020, and nearly 200,000 young people have been without jobs for six months or longer.

However, the unemployment rate is still lower than it would have been without the government's Job Retention Scheme, which Chancellor Rishi Sunak appears set to extend next week.

This scheme is the UK's most expensive economic support measure to combat the effects of the coronavirus - expected to cost around £70 billion by its scheduled expiry date of 30th April 2021.

Article Source: UK tech jobs surpass pre-pandemic levels, despite rising unemployment (computing.co.uk)

European travel group to create 75 tech jobs in Manchester

The owner of brands including Cottages.com, Hoseasons and James Villa Holidays has announced plans to create up to 75 tech jobs in Manchester.

Awaze has aspirations to build a “thriving commercial and technology hub” at its city centre base.

It comes following last year’s restructure, which saw it move its UK HQ from Earby in Lancashire to Manchester.

“Our aim is to build a state-of-the-art common web platform to house all our brands and provide the best possible experience for our customers and property owners alike. That requires the sharpest brains in the business at all levels and is exactly why we decided to set up in Manchester in the first place,” explained John Crosby, the Awaze COO.

“There’s a fantastic tech community in the city already and we’re excited to be doing our bit to grow and add to it by creating these roles and recruiting from the local area.”

The jobs will be across tech, revenue management, marketing, commercial and legal.

Awaze is one of Europe’s leading managed vacation rentals and holiday resort businesses, generating gross revenues of more than EUR 1.8bn across 110,000 places to say.

The brands owned by Awaze were previously part of Wyndham Worldwide, before they were sold to Platinum Equity in May 2018.

“A pan-European vision like ours means there’ll be a range of complex issues to solve along the way, and that should be a very attractive proposition to the people we’re looking to recruit,” continued Crosby.

"We want quick-thinking problem solvers who thrive on a challenge, love being part of a team, and want to help us build game-changing travel solutions right here in the heart of Manchester.”

Article Source: European travel group to create 75 tech jobs in Manchester Prolific North

One in 10 Yorkshire region job openings now in tech

Nearly one in 10 job vacancies in Yorkshire and the Humber are for tech-related roles, according to research by entrepreneur network Tech Nation and job search engine Adzuna.

There are currently 3,781 open IT jobs against a backdrop of 41,356 open vacancies across all industries in the Yorkshire, UK, region.

Growing demand for skilled IT workers has driven up the average salary of tech roles, which come with an average remuneration of £45,013 compared to a £32,012 average for all jobs across the region.

Leeds has 809 open IT-related job vacancies, the most in Yorkshire and Humber. Software company Premier IT, commercial property agents Sanderson Weatherall and risk intelligence firm Crisp are the top hiring companies in the city.

Leeds’s thriving tech ecosystem has pushed average tech salaries above the Yorkshire and Humber region average to £50,447. High demand for software skills has increased software consultant salaries to an average of £68,878 in Leeds.

According to Tech Nation and Adzuna’s figures, there are 333 startups and scale-ups based in Leeds.

The city – the third-biggest in the country – has benefited from a rich talent flow from the University of Leeds, with 39% of its 38,900 graduates choosing STEM-related degrees.

“Tech workers across the Yorkshire region have their pick of high-paying tech jobs, whether it’s STEM graduates from the universities or experienced talent looking for challenging work at a new startup or scaleup,” said Andrew Hunter, co-founder at Adzuna.

“As the UK continues to grapple with the effects of coronavirus, access to resources and skilled staff will be crucial for these businesses in the next 12 months.”

Tech startups in Leeds received a boost in 2019 when the university launched its Nexus innovation hub. The £40m enterprise centre is home to many young but fast-growing companies, including Vet AI, which uses artificial intelligence to bring down vet bills.

Paul Hallett, co-founder and CEO of Vet AI, said: “Leeds will always be the home of Vet AI. It has an amazing ecosystem and the talent pool is unrivalled, not to mention the support and partnerships we’ve built throughout the city, including the University of Leeds and Elmwood Design agency to name a few.

“Our aim at Vet AI is to build a brilliant British business that improves animal welfare by supporting the lives of pets and owners throughout the world.”

Yorkshire tech jobs benefit from record investment

Capital investment in the region has further boosted the area’s appeal as a tech hub. In 2020, tech companies based in Yorkshire and the Humber raised a record £159m, up from the previous high of £142m raised in 2018.

Tech Nation research shows that in 2019 tech companies in Yorkshire and Humber brought in a combined £4bn in revenue.

Dr George Windsor, head of insights at Tech Nation said: “Tech companies in Yorkshire have reported one of their strongest years so far in 2020. Entrepreneurs across the region have benefited from specialist investment and the establishment of strong local networks, which have all contributed to a flourishing tech cluster.”

The Covid-19 pandemic appears to be accelerating the shift of tech roles away from London as companies embrace remote working and enjoy cheaper operational costs outside the capital.

Tech salaries in Cambridge are now among the highest in the UK, while Manchester and Bristol have also seen strong tech sector growth.

Article Source: One in 10 Yorkshire region job openings now in tech | Verdict

Why CISO is now the third highest-earning job in UK

  • Tech jobs now account for 7 of the ten highest-paid jobs in the UK, according to research by Quadrotech

  • Topping the list for tech is Infosecurity Manager, a notoriously challenging position that’s difficult to fill

  • Courier, Sales, and Customer Services roles are the top three most in-demand in 2021, while Software Developers make the top 10

Jobs in technology now dominate the top-ten highest-earning positions by average in the UK, according to research by Quadrotech.

Throughout 2021, there will be a continuing rise in demand for digital skills, as businesses continue to invest in technology to support business growth and at-home working.

While the traditionally high-paying roles of Architect and Lawyer topped the list, at approximately £58,000 (US$80,000), Information Security Managers were ranked third with an average salary of £57,000 (US$78,000). 

The forecasts were taken from job listings on Adzuna over the past year, identifying the number of vacancies and the salaries on offer to find out which industries had the highest growth and which job roles are the most and least in-demand.

With an average salary of £54,000 (US$74,000), Doctors were the only other non-digital job on the list, while Software Engineers, Software and App Developers, Infosec Analysts, Project Managers, and Infrastructure Developers comprised the rest.

Not only some of the highest-paid, but Software Developers are also now some of those most in-demand. 

Source: Quadrotech

While Couriers top the list for the number of monthly vacancies with 188,590, driven by the demand for home deliveries, Software Developers took the tenth position with 20,152 monthly vacancies – demonstrating just how much need there is for technology professionals there is in businesses today. 

That’s around half as many vacancies as Cleaners (41,584), a role regarded as “essential work” during the pandemic.

All this tech demand, meanwhile, is great for industry leaders like Google, Facebook, Apple, and Microsoft, all of who made the top ten organizations with the most vacancies, among Deliveroo, Goldman Sachs, GlaxoSmithKline, BBC, and others. 

“The job market is constantly shifting to meet the demands of employers, employees, and the businesses they serve,” said Nigel Williams, CMO at Quadrotech.

“The jobs on offer to our grandparents’ generation look very different to the in-demand roles of today. We service companies across the sector and are seeing a consistent change in trends and processes as we navigate this uncertain period.

“We’re seeing a continuous rise in tech roles, with the correlation of salaries being amongst the highest in the report,” Williams continued. 

“This is where talent and focus will continue to grow in 2020 as businesses continue to invest in technology to support business growth and at-home working. We expect demand for cleaners to continue to be strong as we guard ourselves for the future. We also expect some travel roles to make a comeback later in 2021 when the industry starts to open up again.”

While Infosecurity Managers, or Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), receive the third-highest average salary in the UK, their work is notoriously demanding, and diverse required skillsets are hard to find.

Following a surge of cyberattacks during the pandemic, cybersecurity has never been more important for businesses. A new report by BT Security found that 84% of executives said their organization has suffered from data loss or a security incident in the last two years – highlighting the enormity of the task that CISOs face.

“[…] the role of the CISO is simultaneously more critical and more multifaceted than even before,” read the report.

“Their job is no longer just to protect against threats and manage risk; they are now expected to play a crucial role in managing brand perception, employee engagement and the strategic adoption of new technologies.”

Article Source: Why CISO is now the third highest-earning job in UK - TechHQ

The 10 most in-demand tech jobs for 2021 — and how to hire for them

From security pros to developers to analysts, the battle for the best IT talent wages. Here’s what to look for (and what to offer) when hiring for the 10 most in-demand jobs for 2021.

As companies scramble to adapt to a tight IT job market, they’re doing whatever they can to attract top tech talent. For some that means getting a head start in filling this year’s most in-demand roles, which range from data-focused to security-related positions, according to Robert Half Technology’s 2021 IT salary report. The survey also reveals the average salaries for each role based on experience.

While Robert Half Technology acknowledges a lot will impact a company’s starting salary, including competition, location, corporate culture, and budgets, there are certain things you can look for to make sure you land the talent you want. Here are 10 jobs expected to be in demand for 2021, the skills and experience you should look for and the average salary you’ll want to pay to stay competitive.

The 10 most in-demand tech jobs for 2021

  • 25th percentile: entry-level workers or those in industries with less competition

  • 50th percentile: “average experience,” a job with “average complexity,” or work in industry with moderate competition

  • 75th percentile: above average experience, strong skills, certifications, a more complex role or work in a “fairly competitive” industry

  • 95th percentile: significant experience, certifications, specializations, high level of expertise, work in a strategic and highly complex role or in a highly competitive industry for talent

Security professional (data, information, network, systems, cloud)

Data, information, systems, network, and cloud security professionals are in demand as businesses increasingly rely on data for everyday business operations. These IT professionals ensure that enterprise IT initiatives remain safe from potential threats inside and outside the organization. They’re also tasked with keeping on top of industry compliance regulations and future security trends, and ensuring the business’s hardware, software, and networks remain secure.

Skills and experience to look for:

  • Ability to communicate and implement security policies and procedures

  • Managing security audits, threats, and vulnerabilities

  • Experience with security systems and documenting failures and other incidents

  • Knowledge of compliance laws and regulations for the industry

Cloud architect

Cloud architects oversee the company’s cloud computing strategy and are responsible for deploying, managing, and supporting cloud applications. Cloud architects typically have a strong understanding of multiple operating systems in addition to networking, programming, and security skills. Businesses should look for individuals with a strong knowledge of cloud services such as Amazon Web Services, as well as experience with ITSM, I&O, governance, automation, and vendor management.

Skills and experience to look for:

  • Knowledge of state-of-the-art cloud technologies and architectural principles

  • Experience with scaling cloud applications

  • Understanding of cost, performance, and architecture of cloud systems

  • Collaboration and communication skills

Database administrator

A database administrator (DBA) is responsible for maintaining the software used to manage a database and ensuring the data is easily accessible to those who need it. DBAs ensure that servers remain efficient and operational while overseeing data security, implementation, replication, backup, storage, access, and partitions. You’ll want to hire someone who can not only monitor your servers, but who will also be able to optimize performance and who can be on call in case of emergency.

Skills and experience to look for:

  • Bachelor’s degree in CS or an associate’s degree in database administration

  • Background in IT work or database administration

  • Oracle, Linux, and SQL skills

  • Data analysis and management and reporting skills

Programmer analyst

A programmer analyst is responsible for designing, coding, and testing new programs along with providing detailed documentation of the process using flowcharts and diagrams. These IT pros are tasked with designing programs based on client requirements and determining how much it will cost to build, while working closely with project managers. Programmer analysts also handle debugging and troubleshooting information systems and application programs. You’ll want to look for someone with experience as a systems analyst and computer programmer because the role of programmer analyst is a combination of the two.

  • Bachelor’s degree in CS, IT, or relevant field

  • Experience in programming

  • Knowledge of programming languages such as Java, Java Script, C, C++, and .NET

  • Communication and interpersonal skills to work with departments and vendors

Systems analyst

Systems analysts design techniques to help solve business problems by analyzing IT systems in the organization. They’re responsible for investigating issues and problems and fixing them as efficiently and in a cost-effective manner. Systems analysts need to test programs and databases to make sure they’re working efficiently, and they also need to run security audits and create and maintain documentation on systems in the organization. You’ll want to look for candidates who can think creatively and who have strong communication and problem-solving skills.

  • Bachelor’s degree in CS, IT, engineering, or IS

  • Analytical and problem-solving skills

  • Data analysis and programming skills

  • Experience with business and technical analysis as well as project management

Mobile applications developer

Developing mobile applications requires extensive knowledge of the various mobile platforms currently available and how to develop applications that will work on Android, iOS, Windows, and other operating systems. Mobile applications developers typically have experience in programming, UX design, troubleshooting and debugging programs, and development. You’ll want a candidate who can design mobile applications with a user-friendly interface and who can collaborate across departments to design, test, release, and support mobile applications.

  • Bachelor’s degree in CS or relevant field

  • Some experience in mobile development

  • Analytical and problem-solving skills

  • Knowledge of iOS, Android, Objective C, HTML, XML, JavaScript

Network administrator

Network administrators are responsible for handling LAN/WAN protocol, software, and hardware. This position involves a lot of time spent troubleshooting, and network administrators typically need to be on call in case of an emergency or failure. What you look for in experience will depend on how extensive your network needs are, but there are certain skills and certifications that can help you find the most qualified workers.

Skills and experience to look for:

  • Troubleshooting and communication skills

  • Analytic and diagnostic skills

  • A willingness to be on call after hours

  • Professional certifications

Software developer

Software developers are responsible for designing, developing, installing, testing, and maintaining software systems. The job requires coding, designing, and building applications, websites, or mobile apps, working with multiple programming languages such as C#, C++, HTML, Java, Microsoft .NET, and SQL Server. Developers need to be able to understand client requirements and be able to provide recommendations for improving web, software, and mobile applications to ensure they meet user needs.

Skills and experience to look for:

  • Knowledge of multiple programming languages

  • Analytical and technical skills

  • Strong communication skills

  • Bachelor’s degree in computer science

  • Two-year associate degree with certifications, bootcamps, and prior work experience

DevOps engineer

DevOps practices encourage faster code deployment with fewer deployment failures, so more companies are hiring engineers with DevOps experience to oversee coding, scripting, and processes development. DevOps engineers often manage IT infrastructure, provision resources, oversee software testing, and monitor performance after release. These workers help simplify code updates, enabling companies to continuously tweak and improve processes in the organization for maximum efficiency.

Skills and experience to look for:

  • Coding and scripting skills

  • Automation, data management, and IT operations skills

  • Deep understanding of DevOps best practices

  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills

Help desk and desktop support professionals

For customer-facing businesses, the help desk is an important part of running an efficient business. As the first line of defense for customer service and troubleshooting, help desk workers need to have the right technical and soft skills for the job. Robert Half Technology breaks out the role of help desk technician into three tiers, given that the job description and requirements can vary significantly based on the business.

Skills and experience to look for:

  • Tier 1: for entry-level positions that require less than two years of experience, an associate degree, or coursework at a technical school

  • Tier 2: for positions requiring two to four years of experience, a two-year or bachelor’s degree, and relevant work experience

  • Tier 3: four or more years of experience in a help desk setting, bachelor’s degree in a related field, and professional certifications

Article Source: The 10 most in-demand tech jobs for 2021 — and how to hire for them | CIO

UK fintech review to propose changes to visa and listing rules

A government-backed review into the UK’s financial technology industry will recommend measures to support fast growing companies after Brexit including special visas for skilled workers and changes to the UK’s listing rules. 

The review, which was launched by chancellor Rishi Sunak at the Budget last March and is being led by former Worldpay chief executive Ron Kalifa, has been tasked by ministers to come up with ideas on how to support the UK’s buoyant fintech sector. 

The government sees the industry as a key area of focus as it considers where to prioritise future industrial strategy efforts after Brexit. London has been the centre for much of the fintech industry in Europe, with so-called “unicorn” companies worth more than £1bn such as Revolut, Monzo and TransferWise setting up in the UK capital. 

But the UK’s departure from the EU raises problems for the future and in particular questions over whether start-ups can attract European talent, which makes up a large proportion of their workforces. The fintech sector is estimated to be worth about £7bn to the UK economy, according to government figures, and employs around 60,000 people in the UK.

The recommendations, which are still being finalised, are expected to propose tech visas to bring in essential talent for the UK’s most dynamic companies, as well as changes to the listing regime to ensure that the London stock market is more attractive to founders of fast growing firms.

According to two people familiar with the review’s work, these are likely to include proposals to allow dual class shares structures for listed companies on the so-called “premium” exchange. Founders often want to retain a stake, which will allow them to retain greater control over the immediate future of the business after IPO.

The review is also expected to back reducing the minimum stake in a company that has to be floated on the market from 25 per cent to 10 per cent. Mr Kalifa is working closely with Jonathan Hill, who is overseeing a separate review into the UK’s listing regime that will also look at changes to share structures and flotation rules.

The review has looked at five specific areas: skills and talent, investment, national connectivity, policy, and international attractiveness.

The review will also look at ways to join up 10 “clusters” of fintech industries around the UK that it has identified, often based around universities that spin off innovative ideas.

It will also push to improve access to institutional investors in the UK such as those in the pensions industry for companies that have reached beyond start-up phase. Other advice is being drawn up about how to improve government oversight and support for fintech companies, with the industry often falling between departments, regulators and private sector organisations.

Mr Kalifa, who has consulted with the industry, is expected to publish the report next month. He declined to comment ahead of publication.

Article Source: UK fintech review to propose changes to visa and listing rules | Financial Times (ft.com)

UK tech jobs bounce back as investment hits record high

UK tech job vacancies have bounced back strongly as Britain’s booming tech sector shrugged off the Covid-19 pandemic to attract record levels of investment.

While job vacancies in the industry dropped sharply at the height of the crisis in July, they have since climbed 50 per cent and are now accumulating at a rate of 2.6 per cent per month, according to new figures from Tech Nation.

The recovery highlights the resilience of the UK’s digital economy, which now accounts for 10 per cent of all job openings.

Despite the impact of the pandemic, venture capital investment in UK tech firms rose to fresh highs in 2020 as Britain continues to lead the way in Europe.

Tech companies raised $15bn (£11bn) this year, a slight increase on the $14.8bn achieved in 2019 and higher than the rest of Europe combined, according to data from Dealroom.

This was spurred on by a number of big-ticket fundraising rounds by companies including fintech firm Revolut and digital insurance provider Ki, which both secured $500m in fresh funding. 

Go Cardless and Octopus Energy also bagged significant cash injections in the final weeks of the year.

In addition, UK-based venture capital firms also smashed previous records by raising $8.2bn this year, up from $5.5bn in 2019.

Britain’s unicorn farm

The bumper investment helped spur on the UK’s track record in creating unicorns — private companies valued at $1bn or more.

Seven new unicorns were created this year, including Gousto, Gymshark and Cazoo, taking the country’s total to 80. According to the report, the UK also boasts more than 130 tech firms valued at between $250m and $800m, signalling a strong pipeline of future unicorns.

Writing in City A.M. today, culture secretary Oliver Dowden said the UK tech sector had shown a “remarkable ability to adapt”.

“The 2020 report is hugely positive, and it brings clear tidings for 2021: the health of our tech sector and our overall economy are now inextricably linked,” he wrote.

Dowden promised “another huge tech push” from the government next year, adding that new regulation of digital companies would bring “exciting new innovators and disruptors into the fold”.

Digital job drive

The new data showed that UK tech job vacancies are now at their highest level since May after suffering a steep fall as a result of Covid-19.

Job openings had reached just over 75,353 by November, up from a low of just over 50,000 in July, according to data compiled by Adzuna.

While this remains below the 106,000 IT-related vacancies recorded in March, rapid growth suggests the sector is on track for a full recovery in the coming months.

According to the latest ONS data, the digital tech economy employs 2.98m people, after growing 11 per cent over the last two year. 

While London makes up nearly one-fifth of all tech vacancies, the south east comes second with 15,038 and north west England has over 7,000 available jobs. 

The most in-demand role remains software developer, which has more than 31,000 vacancies. However, more than a third of available jobs are in non-digital roles, including HR, marketing and legal.

Salaries in the tech industry are considerably higher than the national average at £53,318, up four per cent on 2019 figures despite low inflation. 

“Today’s positive job and investment figures offer further proof that the UK’s tech ecosystem has an important role to play in the recovery and the opportunity to build back a more sustainable, fairer society,” said Laura Citron, chief executive of London & Partners.

Suranga Chandratillake, partner at Balderton Capital, added: “Attracting $15bn worth of investment is an astounding feat for the UK’s tech industry. 

“It’s great to see the success of the industry spanning both different areas of the UK, and different sectors, including fintech, e-commerce and green energy.”

Article Source: UK tech jobs bounce back as investment hits record high : CityAM

Job prospects in UK tech have never been better

2020 has been a rough time for every industry but stacked against the damage lockdowns and social distancing inflicted on sectors like hospitality and the arts, jobs in technology have been some of those getting off lightly.

From software engineers, web developers, and cybersecurity specialists, the technology sector is expanding when many others are shrinking back. And as businesses place increased emphasis on digitization to meet the challenges of a changing market, these kinds of skills are required in all industries, from e-commerce to automating factories.

According to research from CWJobs, the tech sector’s growth – combined with a surge in individuals looking to retrain or upskill in a turbulent job market – could see the UK tech skills gap narrows, with more than half (55%) of non-tech-workers considering or already beginning the process of moving into a tech-based role.

Nearly one in 10 (8%) have already made the leap – many are undertaking online tech training courses in order to develop their IT skills. There’s a particular demand for IT support specialists given the shift to remote working.

The tech skills gap closes

The tech industry has long experienced a skills gap with demand for top talent exceeding supply over the years. But with businesses placing increasing value on technology as a result of the pandemic, nearly half of IT execs (45%) say their company is actively recruiting for tech-based roles. There might now be an in-flow of new talent enough to start closing that gap – and the tech industry is open to embracing those with non-tech backgrounds.

According to Glassdoor, companies including Revolut, Apple, Amazon, Ocado Technology, and Microsoft are still hiring in the UK.

“Having played an integral role in supporting business and the public throughout the pandemic, when it was most needed, tech skills and roles are now more valued than ever, said Nimmi Patel, Policy Manager Skills, Talent and Diversity, techUK.

“Now is the time for the industry to seize on the enthusiasm from those interested in different careers and grasp the opportunity to tackle the UK’s skills gap and create a more diverse sector.”

On the rising demand for new tech talent and the opportunity it creates for those seeking adaptable and resilience skillsets for a “new world of work”, CWJobs director, Dominic Harvey, added: “As businesses try to emerge from the pandemic in the best shape they can, it’s clear that technology is key to achieving long-term success.”

Findings from the report are positive for the UK tech sector’s prospects but may leave a bitter taste in the mouth of workers who have been forced into the position of having to retrain or upskill from their existing careers in respective sectors which have been hard hit.

Not forgetting…

Last month, a UK government-backed advert was tweeted that seemed to encourage people working in the arts – an industry that has suffered severely from lockdowns, social distancing and has lost thousands of jobs as a result – to retrain in tech.

Featuring an image of a ballet dancer tying her shoes, the ad’s text read: ‘Fatima’s next job could be in cyber.’

The government cyber recruitment ad featuring ‘Fatima’

The ad campaign, which promised to equip people with “essential cyber skills” for a “rewarding career” was derided on Twitter; critics said it was in bad taste and depicted the government’s attitude towards the arts.

A spokesperson for the prime minister said: “This particular piece of content was not appropriate and has been removed from the campaign. The government recognizes the challenge to the cultural industry.”

While the tech sector has remained largely resilient to an economic downturn, some 150,000 jobs in the UK have been lost, with sectors such as hospitality, aviation, and retail some of those worst hit.

Article Source: https://techhq.com/2020/11/job-prospects-in-uk-tech-have-never-been-better/

It's official! Tier 2 ICT holders can switch!

From 1st December 2020, Tier 2 ICT visa holders can apply to switch within the UK into the Skilled Worker category. This then enables the visa holder to be on a track to indefinite leave to remain after 5 years as a Skilled Worker.
Additionally, the 12 month cooling period is also being removed.
Switching your visa will give you more flexibility with your employer, better opportunities and a pathway to ILR.

UK Tech skills gap set to narrow as half of UK workers consider a career change to IT

New research from CWJobs reveals the UK tech skills gap is set to narrow. Surveying over 2,000 professionals, comprising of 1,120 tech workers and 1,026 non-tech workers, the report finds that over half (55%) of non-tech workers contemplating a career change have considered or have begun the process of moving into a tech-based role, with almost one in 10 (8%) having already made the move.

The tech industry has long experienced a skills gap, as the demand for top talent has exceeded supply over the years. The pandemic has amplified this, as businesses recognise the increased value of IT and tech support. Consequently, nearly half (45%) of IT workers revealed their company is currently actively recruiting for tech-based roles, offering greater opportunities for those looking to retrain and upskill into the thriving tech sector.

Covid-19 Forces Career Considerations

When looking at how Covid-19 has impacted individuals’ professional aspirations, for one in eight (12%), the pandemic has sped up their ambition to change careers completely.

Additionally, a quarter (25%) of all workers said they would put stability and security over salary going forward when asked about their motivations. Fortunately, the tech industry presents a growing opportunity to individuals looking to future-proof their careers, by retraining or entering a completely new career. A fifth (20%) of IT workers said one of the main advantages of working in a tech role, over others at present, is greater career stability, as well as the fact that companies are prioritising tech due to learnings from Covid-19 (19%).

The Tech Appeal

Tech roles are an increasingly attractive option for non-tech workers, as nearly three in 10 (29%) agree their careers become more future-proofed as they develop further tech/IT skills. In fact, over a fifth (22%) have undertaken online tech training courses since the pandemic hit in order to develop their IT skills. Highlighting the sector’s true value, just under a quarter (23%) of IT workers said one of the advantages of a tech role, at present, is that the ability to learn is endless due to the constant development of software and hardware.

Almost three in 10 (28%) IT workers believe their company needs to recruit new tech talent to the business due to the increase in remote working. Therefore, the top types of tech skills IT workers feel their company needs to recruit are IT support (33%) and cyber security (23%). Interestingly, IT support came out as the top (34%) online tech course taken within the past year by those surveyed. Tech workers also recognise the need to keep their IT skills current, with a third (33%) looking to further their specialisms. Transferable soft-skills such as problem solving (31%) and teamwork (22%) from those with non-tech backgrounds have also been recognised as beneficial to the sector.

Positively, the industry is open to embracing this new wave of talent from various sectors. Nearly three in 10 IT workers (28%) revealed they would welcome new talent from outside of tech, as they believe it would help address the wider skills gap.

Nimmi Patel, Policy Manager Skills, Talent and Diversity, techUK said: “Having played an integral role in supporting business and the public throughout the pandemic, when it was most needed, tech skills and roles are now more valued than ever. As the benefits to working within tech are widely recognised by those outside of the sector, these new findings from CWJobs indicate we’re likely to see more people turn their careers towards tech. Now is the time for the industry to seize on the enthusiasm from those interested in different careers and grasp the opportunity to tackle the UK’s skills gap and create a more diverse sector.”

Dominic Harvey, Director at CWJobs, comments: “Our new research reveals that jobs in IT and tech are likely to offer a sense of security for those looking to enhance their employability and ensure they are adaptable and resilient to the new world of work. As businesses try to emerge from the pandemic in the best shape they can, it’s clear that technology is key to achieving long-term success. The tech skills supporting innovations, services and companies across the UK remain the most important factor, feeding demand to an industry that already experiences an obvious skills gap.

“Tapping into this new pipeline of future talent will help alleviate the gap by supporting and offering training to those willing to learn and upskill. Going forward, businesses must be open to welcoming individuals into the industry, considering various job backgrounds, levels of experience and the transferable skills that new candidates can bring to the role and their company. In doing so, the tech job market will remain agile and robust, offering unique opportunities for all.”


Article Source: http://hrnews.co.uk/uk-tech-skills-gap-set-to-narrow-as-half-of-uk-workers-consider-a-career-change-to-it/

Zoom and Instagram brand values jump as tech firms get Covid-19 boost

Zoom, Instagram and YouTube have all swept into the rankings of the world’s 100 most valuable brands for the first time this year as the pandemic sparked a major boost for tech companies.

Social media and streaming companies have enjoyed booming demand as millions of people have been forced to stay at home during the outbreak of coronavirus.

Zoom, which has enjoyed a surge in daily users amid a shift to home working, entered the big leagues with a brand valuation of $4.5bn (£3.5bn). 

Instagram was catapulted into 19th place with a valuation of $26.1bn, while YouTube — home to fitness guru Joe Wicks — entered in 30th position at $17.3bn.

Tech titans rule the roost

While the pandemic helped bring new brands into the fold, Amazon was the biggest winner in this year’s rankings.

The ecommerce giant moved up into second position and saw its valuation soar 60 per cent year on year to $201bn as shoppers were forced to stay away from the high street.

By contrast, most retailers suffered a decline in brand value after months of store closures. Zara and H&M fell 13 per cent and 14 per cent respectively.

After two years as the top growing sector, luxury brands also took a hit in 2020, with all but one brand — Hermes — slipping in value.

Overall, tech companies dominated the top 10, with Apple retaining the top spot at $323bn. Microsoft overtook Google to enter the top three after its valuation jumped 53 per cent.

Tesla, which has seen its share price soar over the year, also re-entered the table for the first time since 2017.

Tech firms were the key driver of growth for this year’s rankings, with the combined value for all 100 brands rising nine per cent to $2.3 trillion.

On average, tech brands saw their value rise by a fifth this year, while tech companies now represent 48 per cent of the total table value — up from just 17 per cent a decade ago.

“In 2020, technology brands have become even stronger as a result of the Covid effect, which has further accelerated the already frenetic pace of digital change,” said Christian Purser, chief executive of Interbrand London, which compiled the rankings.

“The new technology entrants, Instagram, YouTube and Zoom mirror the fractured nature of our lives under Covid, in which we see huge uptake of brands that are designed to connect us.”

Full stream ahead

As the pandemic left millions of people cooped up at home, streaming companies have also cashed in on increased demand.

Binge-friendly Netflix bagged a 41 per cent increase in brand value to $12.7bn, while Spotify jumped 22 places in the ranking at $8.4bn.

The companies’ success is in part down to their subscription-based business models. Almost two-thirds of double-digit risers in this year’s table generate significant revenue from subscriptions.

However, the benefits were not enjoyed by US media giant Disney, which launched its Disney Plus streaming service as lockdown hit the UK in March.

The company retained 10th position but saw its brand valuation slip eight per cent to $40.8bn.

While Disney has seen rapid growth in its streaming division, this has been offset by the forced closure of its theme parks and cancellation of cruises.

Other winners from the pandemic were payment firms Paypal, Visa and Mastercard, which all climbed up the rankings thanks to an increase in online shopping and contactless payments.

Mastercard chief marketing officer Raja Rajamannar said the rankings were “important for companies to better understand how we’re being perceived in consumers’ hearts and minds”.

“Especially during these unprecedented times, when consumer behaviours have shifted and trust is more important than ever, these rankings are a way for us to better understand how we can best serve our communities.”

Article Source: https://www.cityam.com/zoom-and-instagram-brand-values-jump-as-tech-firms-get-covid-19-boost/

Microsoft wants to help create 1.5m technology jobs in the UK

Microsoft believes that, through education and training, the UK could have 1.5 million people build a career in the tech industry within half a decade, with another 300,000 leaning on the industry.

The company has kicked off a new campaign, called Get Go 2021, to ensure this goal is achieved. The initiative has been set up with the goal of training people who are currently in education, those new to tech and those whose jobs have been affected by the economic/Covid-19 crisis.

But Get Go 2021 is not just for people new to the tech industry – it is also for current workers as well, as the campaign promises to advance their skills, as well as help leaders who need to embrace new business models and deploy new technology.

Through the scheme, Microsoft hopes to narrow the talent gap in the industry, accelerate technology adoption and drive UK productivity. It also believes it can enhance competitiveness in the country by enabling access to tech careers and opening new talent lanes, which could be worth more than $62 billion.

Microsoft says it can leverage LinkedIn data to “anticipate the need” for more than three million skilled people in UK technology careers over the next five years. 

KPMG, Unilever and the Department of Work and Pensions are already supporting the campaign and Microsoft is calling on other UK businesses to join them.

Article Source: https://www.itproportal.com/news/microsoft-wants-to-help-build-15m-technology-jobs-in-the-uk/

Octopus Energy to create 1,000 new UK jobs

Firm says it wants to help Britain become ‘best place to invest in clean energy’

Octopus Energy plans to create 1,000 new technology jobs across sites in London, Brighton, Warwick and Leicester, and a new tech hub in Manchester, as part of its vision to make the UK the “Silicon Valley of energy”.

The supplier will employ graduates at the new sites to help develop the proprietary green energy technology platform which has helped to make Octopus one of the fastest-growing companies in the UK.

The prime minister, Boris Johnson, said the new jobs will “provide exciting opportunities across the country for those who want to be at the cutting edge of the global green revolution”.

“It’s UK tech companies like Octopus who will ensure we continue to build back greener and remain a world leader in pioneering renewable energy, leading the path to net zero whilst creating thousands of skilled jobs,” Johnson said.

Octopus became the UK’s latest “tech unicorn” (a startup company valued at more than $1bn) in May this year after the Australian energy company Origin paid £300m for a 20% stake. It has since announced a £100m push into the US market, as part of its goal to reach 100 million energy customers around the world by 2027.

The company’s newest recruits will help to develop smart grid technologies that can help Britain’s transport and heating systems harness cheap renewable energy, helping them to reduce their emissions in line with the UK’s pledge to be carbon neutral by 2050.

The chancellor, Rishi Sunak, said the growth of green jobs was not only good news for British jobseekers, but also “a vote of confidence in the UK economy as it recovers” and a pivotal part of “our collective efforts to build a greener, cleaner planet”.

Octopus has already used its cutting-edge energy technology platform, known as Kraken, to help its customers earn money by using more electricity when renewable energy generation is high, and avoid paying higher costs when renewable energy is low.

It has also widened its reach to other UK energy companies including E.On UK, Good Energy and Co-Op Energy, which also use the Kraken platform under technology licence deals.

Greg Jackson, the chief executive of Octopus, said the technology could help “make Britain the best place to invest in creating new clean electricity generation”.

He said: “When Apple created the App Store, nobody knew that it would change the way we order food or transport forever.”

“We’re revolutionising the energy industry in the same way, creating jobs not just through increased demand for affordable renewables, but by facilitating the development of new and emerging industries like electric vehicles, electric heating and vertical farming.”

Article Source: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/oct/05/tech-unicorn-octopus-energy-to-create-1000-new-uk-jobs

These are the skills most in demand as companies change their priorities

Keeping the hackers out remains a top priority but firms are also looking at new areas of investment.

Organizations around the world face a shortage of IT security skills as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, with cybersecurity now the most in-demand technology skill in the world.

A global survey of 4,200 IT leaders by tech recruiter Harvey Nash and KPMG found that four in 10 companies reported a rise in cybersecurity attacks, as workplaces moved from offices to the home.

Of these, 83% reported a rise in phishing attempts during COVID-19, while 62% reported an uptick in malware attacks – demonstrating how the remote-working landscape has left businesses and their employees far more exposed to threats.

This has left IT security skills in record demand: according to the 2020 Harvey Nash/KPMG CIO Survey, 35% of organizations are now seeking cybersecurity professionals as their top priority. As a result, 2020 marks the first time in more than a decade that IT security skills have topped the list of global tech skills shortages.

Other in-demand technology skills are organizational change management (27%), enterprise architecture (23%) and technical architecture and advanced analytics, both at 22%

A shortage in tech skills sits amidst a backdrop of massive tech investment and acceleration in 2020, largely forced by the rapid shift to remote working caused by the pandemic.

According to the survey, companies spent an additional $15 billion a week on technology during the first wave of the pandemic, to ensure that employees could work from home safely.

Almost half (47%) of IT leaders have accelerated digital transformation and adoption of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, blockchain and automation. At the same time, "small-scale" implementations of AI and machine learning have jumped up from 21% before the pandemic to 24% in August 2020, the survey found.

Bev White, CEO of Harvey Nash Group said the "unexpected and unplanned" surge in technology investment had been accompanied by huge shifts in the way businesses operated, with global industries seeing "more organizational change in the last six months than we have seen in the last ten years."

Yet change has not been easy. Major shifts in working environments, coupled with ongoing anxieties about the COVID-19 pandemic, has had a significant impact on mental wellbeing.

Harvey Nash and KPMG's survey found that eight in 10 IT leaders were concerned about the mental health of their teams, with in six in 10 IT leaders (58%) saying they had put programs in place to support staff as a result.

White suggested that such support would be crucial to ensuring prosperity in the months ahead: "Success will largely be about how organizations deal with their culture and engage with their people," she said.

For now, remote working appears very much here to stay. Eighty-six percent of IT leaders reported they had made a significant portion of their workforce remote during COVID-19, while 43% said they expected more than half of their employees to continue working from home after the pandemic.

This will require better integration between business and technology teams to create a culture of collaboration, the report found. Meanwhile, business leaders will need to rethink how they attract and retain employees without a physical office space to engage them in.

"In a world where location has dissolved, where the office now includes the kitchen table, and where over 80% of IT leaders are concerned about the mental health of their teams, organizations will need to reformulate their employee offer to attract and retain the talent they need to support them through the pandemic, and beyond," said White.

Diversity also remains an issue for IT leaders. The gender diversity of technology leaders remained broadly unchanged from last year's survey, with just 11% of CIOs surveyed by Harvey Nash/KPMG identifying as female.

Just under a quarter (24%) of IT leaders said they felt their organization was successful at promoting diversity, yet those who had said it had improved trust and collaboration with their tech teams (67%), improved access to the right skills (56%), and increased their ability to innovate (53%).

Article Source: https://www.techrepublic.com/article/cybersecurity-skills-in-short-supply-as-covid-19-tests-resilience-of-businesses-and-employees/

Tech leads UK jobs vacancy surge

Although London continued to dominate the market last week, with a 15 per cent share of all advertised vacancies - itself a 20 per cent on the previous seven days - Broadbean said the upward trend was repeated in "numerous" cities across the UK.

Manchester, for instance, saw a 32 per cent, week-on-week rise while Birmingham recorded a 22 per cent jump. "This is indicative of a continued attempt by businesses to ‘return to normal’ as more employers adapt to an extended period of remote working," said the company. Alex Fourlis, managing director at Broadbean Technology, said: “While there’s a level of uncertainty still, September’s figures suggest that the UK is adapting to this ‘new normal’, with job numbers remaining at promising levels.

“We are still facing tough economic times and we are by no means out of the woods yet. However, these promising signs indicate that for some employers at least, resilience remains intact.

“And with the chancellor announcing further measures to not only secure jobs, but also extend loan schemes for businesses, we hope that this positive trend in recruitment continues in the immediate future.

”Broadbean’s analysis found that across all sectors, IT vacancies remained high, accounting for almost ten per cent of all jobs advertised during the week ending September 20, representing a 39 per cent week-on-week rise in the lead-up to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s announcement that employees should return to remote working where they could.

“With predictions that this home working rule will remain in place for a possible six-month period, this demand for tech experts will likely continue on this upward trajectory in the immediate future as businesses seek the tech expertise to manage and update IT infrastructures,” reported Broadbean.

Even outside of main employment hubs such as London and Manchester, a report from Tech Nation earlier this month showed that technology jobs represented between 23-26 per cent of job opportunities in the likes of Cambridge, Edinburgh, Reading and Belfast.

Bev White, CEO of global recruitment consultancy and IT outsourcing service provider Harvey Nash, said its annual survey, compiled in conjunction with KPMG, showed that “the majority of the UK’s tech leaders are either increasing or retaining their staff over the year ahead, with 82 per cent of IT leaders in the UK expecting their technology headcount to increase or stay the same". She added: “Skills that are in most demand are cyber security, architecture, organisational change, and cloud. Furthermore, our research has found that the UK’s tech leaders are also hiring across the country, with more IT leaders in the North West, in technology hubs such as Manchester, planning to increase their technology headcount over the next year than in London. Both of these cities expect to recruit for more technology roles than the UK average.”

Article Source: https://www.relocatemagazine.com/news/technology-tech-leads-uk-jobs-vacancy-surge-dsapsted-0920

Here are five new tech jobs you could be doing 15 years from now

What will the workplace of 2035 look like? Without a crystal ball it's hard to say for sure, however new research from Citrix attempts to shed light on what the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) means for the IT workforce in 15 years' time.

As AI continues its creep into all corners of major industry, robot-wary employees have speculated about what it means for their own place in the workforce. But contrary to the popular – albeit dystopian – opinion that machines will eventually replace us all, a study of 500 C-suite leaders and 1,000 employees by Citrix concluded that our AI colleagues will in fact make us smarter, more efficient, and open up brand new roles in the IT marketplace.

These new jobs will be designed to support our technology-driven workplace and the changing relationship between humans and machines, Citrix said. For instance, machine learning and AI algorithms are only as useful as the data they're trained on; consequently, 82% of leaders and 44% of employees surveyed by Citrix believe that dedicated 'Robot/ AI trainer' roles will be needed in the future workplace.

Other new roles predicted for workforce of 2035 include:

  • Virtual reality manager (79% of leaders and 36% of employees)

  • Advanced data scientist (76% of leaders and 35% of employees)

  • Privacy and trust manager (68% of leaders and 30% of employees)

  • Design thinker (56% of leaders and 27% of employees)

Over half of workers thought that full time employees would be rare in 15 years; just over half of managers thought the majority of high-value specialist workers will work as on-demand and freelance contractors. Perhaps that's why two thirds of execs thought the new role of 'Temporary Worker Manager' would exist.

The findings form part of Citrix's Work 2035 study, a year-long examination of global work patterns to understand the role technology will play in the future of work. 

The study looked at how businesses across financial services, healthcare and life sciences, telecommunications, media and technology, professional services, manufacturing and retail expected to embrace AI, machine learning and automation.

More than three-quarters (77%) of professionals believe that, by 2035, AI will significantly speed up their decision-making processes, making them more productive. At the same time, 83% of professionals predict that technology will automate repetitive and low-value tasks, freeing them to focus on more meaningful work.

Yet there appears to be some discord between the enthusiasm of business leaders and employees when it comes to the impact of automation in the workplace. While 73% of business leaders believe that technology and AI will make workers at least twice as productive by 2035, only 39% of employees share their optimism.

Similarly, almost two-thirds of employees (65%) said there were unclear on how their organization will gain a competitive advantage from using AI if it was used by every business, compared to just 16% of business leaders who thought the advantages of AI were unclear.

Of course, not all jobs will be safe as artificial intelligence-driven processes take hold. As more positions are automated, workers need to keep retraining to stay relevant in the new, dynamic job market.

CEOs and CIOs won't be immune to the transforming landscape, either: 58% of professionals who responded to the study said AI had the potential to make most business decisions, removing the need for a traditional senior management team. And while businesses leaders were far more of the view technology would simply assist and "augment" leadership positions, a third of employees believe that leadership will be either partially or completely replaced by technology by 2035.

The rapid advancement of AI will also call for the creation of new executive roles and departments, Citrix's study found.

More than 8 in 10 (82%) of business leaders believe that every organization will have a Chief Artificial Intelligence (CAI) by 2035, working in "a human-machine team" with the CEO to make business decisions. At the same time, 90% of leaders believe that future organizations will established a central AI department to oversee all areas of business.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has forced companies to reimagine the way things get done, and over the next 15 years, they will face more challenges and disruptions than ever," said Tim Minahan, Executive Vice President of Business Strategy, Citrix.

"But as Work 2035 makes clear, within this chaos lies opportunity. Savvy companies are using this crisis to begin planning for the "next normal". Not just return to where they were, but to embrace new workforce and work models to power their business forward."

Article Source: https://www.techrepublic.com/article/here-are-five-new-tech-jobs-you-could-be-doing-15-years-from-now/

Gartner Says Over 40% of Privacy Compliance Technology Will Rely on Artificial Intelligence in the Next Three Years

Gartner Analysts to Discuss Technology Considerations for Privacy Leaders at Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo™ 2020 in Toronto, May 11-14

Over 40% of privacy compliance technology will rely on artificial intelligence (AI) by 2023, up from 5% today, according to Gartner, Inc.

“Privacy laws, such as General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), presented a compelling business case for privacy compliance and inspired many other jurisdictions worldwide to follow,” said Bart Willemsen, research vice president at Gartner.

“More than 60 jurisdictions around the world have proposed or are drafting postmodern privacy and data protection laws as a result. Canada, for example, is looking to modernize their Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), in part to maintain the adequacy standing with the EU post-GDPR.”

Privacy leaders are under pressure to ensure that all personal data processed is brought in scope and under control, which is difficult and expensive to manage without technology aid. This is where the use of AI-powered applications that reduce administrative burdens and manual workloads come in.

AI-Powered Privacy Technology Lessens Compliance Headaches

At the forefront of a positive privacy user experience (UX) is the ability of an organization to promptly handle subject rights requests (SRRs). SRRs cover a defined set of rights, where individuals have the power to make requests regarding their data and organizations must respond to them in a defined time frame.

According to the 2019 Gartner Security and Risk Survey, many organizations are not capable of delivering swift and precise answers to the SRRs they receive. Two-thirds of respondents indicated it takes them two or more weeks to respond to a single SRR. Often done manually as well, the average costs of these workflows are roughly $1,400 USD, which pile up over time.

“The speed and consistency by which AI-powered tools can help address large volumes of SRRs not only saves an organization excessive spend, but also repairs customer trust,” said Mr. Willemsen. “With the loss of customers serving as privacy leaders’ second highest concern, such tools will ensure that their privacy demands are met.”

Global Privacy Spending on Compliance Tooling Will Rise to $8 Billion Through 2022

Through 2022, privacy-driven spending on compliance tooling will rise to $8 billion worldwide. Gartner expects privacy spending to impact connected stakeholders’ purchasing strategies, including those of CIOs, CDOs and CMOs. “Today’s post-GDPR era demands a wide array of technological capabilities, well beyond the standard Excel sheets of the past,” said Mr. Willemsen.

“The privacy-driven technology market is still emerging,” said Mr. Willemsen. “What is certain is that privacy, as a conscious and deliberate discipline, will play a considerable role in how and why vendors develop their products. As AI turbocharges privacy readiness by assisting organizations in areas like SRR management and data discovery, we’ll start to see more AI capabilities offered by service providers.”

For Editors

The 2019 Gartner Security and Risk Survey was conducted from March 2019 through April 2019 to better understand how risk management planning, operations, budgeting and buying are performed. The research was conducted online among 698 respondents in Brazil, Germany, India, the U.S. and the UK.  Qualifying organizations have at least 100 employees and $50 million (USD equivalent) in total annual revenue for fiscal year 2018.

Gartner clients can read more in the reports “5 Areas Where AI Will Turbocharge Privacy Readiness” and  “Predicts 2020: Embrace Privacy and Overcome Ambiguity to Drive Digital Transformation.” Learn more about Gartner’s 2020 Predictions in the Special Report “Predicts 2020: Barriers Fall as Technology Adoption Grows.”

Additional analysis on driving business performance will be presented during Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo 2020, the world’s most important gathering of CIOs and other IT executives. IT executives rely on these events to gain insight into how their organizations can use IT to overcome business challenges and improve operational efficiency.

Article Source : https://www.cxotoday.com/press-release/gartner-says-over-40-of-privacy-compliance-technology-will-rely-on-artificial-intelligence-in-the-next-three-years/