Spotlight on

Information
Communication Technology

Are you Tech Ready?

IT Specialist Managers, 
IT Operations Technicians, IT Engineers, 
IT User Support Technicians, Telecoms Engineers,
Programmers and Software Developers,
IT and Telecoms Professionals, 
IT Project and Programme Managers,
IT Business Analyst and System Designers, 
ICT Managers

Business Analyst

Computer Assembly Technician

Computer Customer Support Manager

Computer Engineer

Computer Help Desk Operator

Computer Network Manager

Computer Operator

Computer Systems Programmer

Computer Technical Sales Manager

Data Analyst

Data Entry Clerk

Data Manager

Data Administrator

Games Designer

Games Developer

Information Technology Manager

IT Project Manager

IT Support Manager

IT Trainer

Multimedia Specialist

Software Developer

Software Tester

Systems Analyst

Source: Welsh Government, 2015

South Wales is one of the top 5 fastest growing clusters in the UK digital technology industry . High profile companies that employ Tech Specialists include Admiral, BBC Wales and Pinewood Studios.
(Tech City UK, 2015)

Snowdonia in North Wales is an Enterprise Zone focusing on the ICT/Digital sectors. An Enterprise Zone encourages business to set up in that area with incentives such as funding and office space to work in.

Salaries can vary depending on your experience, the employer and where you live. Higher salaries can be awarded for more senior positions. Salaries also vary for self-employed workers.

In 2015, 1 in 7 (14%)
were self-employed in the UK
(Tech Partnership, 2016)

In Wales a Tech Specialist can
earn on average £31,100.
Tech Specialists in London can
earn £43,600
(Tech Partnership, 2015)

Tip! Keep up to date with what’s developing in the sector. The BBC Technology website is a great place to find out what’s going on.

Get networking!

Networking and word of mouth are particularly important in the Information Communication Technology sector. Get to know other ICT people and businesses, face-to-face, and through social media.
Build your network of contacts to sell yourself and your ideas.

Network! Network! Network!

Get experience!

Get as much work experience as you can. Lack of general work experience is one of the top 3 reasons employers give for not employing someone.

50% of all businesses that employ tech specialists have skills gaps within their workforce. That’s 182,000 businesses across the UK.
(The Tech Partnership, 2015)

The following specialist skills are especially in demand:

• Cyber security
• Big data / Analytics
• Software development
• Mobile Computing
• Circuit designers
• Coding
• Data Scientists
• Database management
• App development
• Service management
• Cloud computing
• Key technical skills
• Business and IT management

By 2020 there will be around 56,000 jobs in the UK in big data
(The Tech Partnership, 2015)

Big data employers state that 77% of their big data jobs were ‘very’ or ‘fairly’ difficult to fill.
(The Tech Partnership, 2015)

New in the Sector...

Technology is always changing. Here are just a few new areas that are developing within the Information Communication Technology sector:

• Big data - Collecting large data to analyse for the benefit of businesses
  
  
• Cloud Computing – Storing and accessing data over the internet rather than on your computer

• Cyber Security Systems – Technology to protect data, network, programmes from attack
  
  
• Mobile Computing – Protection of smartphones, laptops and tablets from threats and attacks

Did you know?

Females consistently achieve higher grades than males in IT related subjects, but only 16% of tech specialists are women, and only 1 in 10 are working as Programmers and Software Developers. So, what are you waiting for? Look at the exciting careers available on TechFuture Girls
(The Tech Partnership, 2016)

By 2019, 42% of large companies will be using Big Data Analytics. (The Tech Partnership, 2015)