There’s an ongoing debate over the wisdom of joining the IT ranks in the UK. Like the Renaissance in the 1500s and the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, some say the Information Age may have run its course. Others forecast that the field is still growing.
GDP
If IT is benchmarked by GDP growth, Richard Holway, director of Ovum Holway, sees the industry peaking in the UK. When he was interviewed by Computer Weekly, he noted that IT in Britain saw tremendous growth from the mid-1960s to 2000.
PCs and networking technologies rose from less than 1 percent to 4 percent during that time. However, like the railways, airlines, and telecom businesses that preceded it, Holway predicts IT will decline, and dip to 2.5 percent by 2020.
Interviewer John Riley pointed out that the UK government “believes the UK IT industry has passed from adolescence to senility without passing through maturity.”
For those hoping to enter the field, however, Karl Schneider, editorial director for Computer Weekly, believes there’s stronger growth in small to mid-sized companies versus the multinational firms.
Schneider said smaller IT suppliers were reporting astounding growth rates of 18%. On user spend he said, “Small and medium-sized companies with fewer than 500 employees are spending on IT at about twice the rate of companies with more than 500 employees.”
Finding a job in the UK
There are a number of recommended resources for seeking IT work in the UK. The Guardian newspaper is widely recognized as one of the best go-to resources for skilled jobs in the UK.
All big and reputable companies, especially those who want to reach an international audience, advertise their vacancies in The Guardian. It dedicates several classified pages to different fields of employment on specific days of the week; e.g., IT jobs on one day, vacancies in the public sector on another.
In addition, the paper offers an extensive, nationwide online job database searchable by anyone with an interest in working in the UK.
Training
For those that are interested in training before seeking an IT position in the UK, CBT Nuggets is a great resource to start the ball rolling. They offer a variety of courses, primarily in IT. Their comprehensive library contains thousands of training videos, ranging from Cisco networking to Microsoft Word. Whether you want to pass a certification exam, increase your skill, or simply learn new things, CBG Nuggets’ years of work in the field are highly valuable.
The firm’s website highlights why many have sought their programs: “All of our training is delivered through high-quality online streaming video. Subscribers can train 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from the convenience of a computer or mobile device.”