Information technology and computing: useful links and news sources

Key employers

The sector varies immensely in occupational scope and breadth, as do employers - both in the private and public sector.

In the private sector, international companies such as Accenture, IBM, Logica and Microsoft are amongst the biggest names in the IT industry providing expert support and services to other organisations.

However, over half of IT professionals find IT roles outside of the IT industry, with companies providing services via hardware and software, web development and specialist consultancy services for niche markets. Examples of these are Ernst and Young, Deloitte, KPMG and BDO Stoy Hayward.

Financial services are big recruiters in the IT and computing sector. Firms such as JP Morgan, Bloomberg and Morgan Stanley require highly secure, high quality IT systems for their global daily banking transactions. There is some outsourcing of their functions via software development companies such as Scott Logic Ltd. Employment opportunities for IT workers are also numerous here.

In addition the retail industry has business-focused IT jobs available; most of the major retailers such as Sainsbury's and Tesco will use a variety of IT systems to support a whole range of functions.

The telecommunications industry is one which is fast paced and rapidly expanding, providing mobile services, broadband, land telephony, IPTV and video on demand services. Key players are BT, Vodafone, Orange and T-Mobile. With increasing demand in personal device innovation, this is obviously an industry that will see IT occupations proliferate.

The public sector, which includes local authorities, central government and the NHS, offers a variety of IT roles.

There are also other industries and organisations operating in the UK IT and computing sector.

• The manufacturing industry is a key user of all aspects of IT and opportunities exist in multinational engineering companies in the oil, pharmaceutical, automotive parts and energy industries. Examples of key players are GlaxoSmithkline, npower and Amec.
• The games development industry has a good UK presence. Many of the larger companies have studios in the UK and include companies such as MGS, Sony, Rockstar and Disney. Many smaller companies offer opportunities in all aspects of games development.
• Lastly, small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Crucially for the labour market in general, these organisations are forecast to proliferate and receive increasing government support, so occupational opportunities here will increase.

Useful links and news sources

• E-skills UK, the Sector Skills Council for IT and Computing
  
  • E-skills resource library
  • E-skills newsletter
  • Follow E-skills on Twitter

• The National Skills Academy for IT
• BCS (The Chartered Institute for IT)
• BCSWomen
• Computer Arts
• Computer Weekly
• Computing
• Computing Careers
• Computing mi
• Contract Jobs
• Contractor UK
• CWJobs
• Datascope
• Freelancers Net
• Intellect
• International Game Developers Association (IGDA)
• IT 4 Communities
• UK Web Design Association (UKWDA)
• IT Jobs Post
• IT Jobs Watch
• JobServe
• Jobsite
• JobStats
• PlanetRecruit
• Technojobs
• Institute of Business Consulting (IBC)
• Institute of IT Training (IITT)
• Institute for the Management of Information Systems (IMIS)
• Institute of Scientific and Technical Communicators (ISTC)
• Institution of Analysts and Programmers (IAP)
• National Computing Centre (NCC)
• Society of Information Technology Management (Socitm)
• British Interactive Media Association (BIMA)
• Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)
• Internet Service Providers' Association (ISPA UK)
• New Media Age
• Silicon
• Skillset (Sector Skills Council for the Audio Visual Industries)
• V3.co.uk
• Women in Technology