Date: 2008-02-04 Category: News

Skills shortage prompts IT enterprises to outsource

Recent reports suggesting a potential drop in the number of new technology professionals over the next five years could lead UK enterprises to increase their IT outsourcing efforts, it has been suggested.

According to the National Outsourcing Association NOA, outsourcing will increase while time is taken to improve technology training and recruitment in the UK.

Martyn Hart, chairman of the organisation, said: "At present the IT industry is struggling to recruit the next generation to the profession, as the nerdish image of an IT worker puts off many youngsters from entering the industry.

"The IT industry may rectify this image but this is a long term project," he added, noting that the only way to narrow the skills gap is to educate and train the next generation of IT workers, starting from a young age. "British workers should be educated and employed to take the highest level UK IT jobs."

Mr Hart also urged employers to ensure that their staff have fully developed IT management skills in order for them to properly manage the organisation's outsourcing contracts.

According to IT training company Firebrand Training, there has been a surge in the number of people taking part in IT courses. The organisation has seen a 45 per cent increase in the number of people taking courses providing basic hardware, software and networking skills.


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