New research reveals that more than three-quarters of UK Chief Information Officers (CIOs) worry about recruiting and upskilling staff to ensure they have the advanced tech skills required for business success in today’s competitive and uncertain market*.
As businesses strive to keep up with the pace of technological change, eight in ten (78 per cent) CIOs are concerned about ensuring that their teams continue to have the right knowledge, skills and experience. They see this as a key driver of business success, with seven in 1ten(69 per cent) believing that the need to upskill employees in the technology department is of critical or high importance.
Meanwhile, as Britain faces continued uncertainty due to Brexit delays, the research reveals that many business leaders are anxious about the impact it could have on their workforce. While three quarters (76 per cent) of CIOs are concerned about finding appropriate talent in today’s competitive market, more than half (51 per cent) worry they won’t be able to recruit enough employees with the right technical skills after Britain leaves the European Union.
However, the research, exploring the changing role of the CIO, also indicates that the tech sector is becoming more diverse with 64 per cent of CIOs saying their team members are from a wider range of backgrounds than they were five years ago, and seven in ten (70 per cent) have more women on their teams.
Keith Little, CIO, Barclaycard, said,
Recruiting the best talent is always a priority for business leaders – but as our research shows, CIOs know it’s not enough to simply hire skilled individuals. To keep pace with the rapid technological change, tech leaders must be prepared to continually identify and address the skills gaps within their organisations.
This could involve setting up new ways of working to better share knowledge across their business, reviewing training programmes or bringing in fresh expertise as the company’s technology goals evolve. The good news is that most CIOs say their team is more diverse than five years ago – suggesting they’re already taking steps to ensure they nurture a wider range of skills.
*by Barclaycard
Aphrodite is a creative writer and editor specialising in publishing and communications. She is passionate about undertaking projects in diverse sectors. She has written and edited copy for media as varied as social enterprise, art, fashion and education. She is at her most happy owning a project from its very conception, focusing on the client and project research in the first instance, and working closely with CEOs and Directors throughout the consultation process. Much of her work has focused on rebranding; messaging and tone of voice is one of her expertise, as is a distinctively unique writing style in my most of her creative projects. Her work is always driven by the versatility of language to galvanise image and to change perception, as it is by inspiring and being inspired by the wondrous diversity of people with whom paths she crosses cross!
Aphrodite has had a variety of high profile industry clients as a freelancer, and previously worked for a number of years as an Editor and Journalist for Prospects.ac.uk.
Aphrodite is also a professional painter.
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