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Mo Gaibee, Associate Consultant at Harvey Nash, was recently featured in a CSO Online article exploring how AI is reshaping entry-level cyber hiring and shifting the nature of the cybersecurity skills gap. In the piece, Mo highlights how hiring criteria are evolving; it’s no longer just about technical certifications. Organisations are increasingly valuing soft skills such as communication, collaboration, adaptability, and strategic thinking, as cybersecurity now touches many areas of a business, including legal, HR, and marketing. He also notes that while AI is automating more of the repetitive monitoring tasks, it hasn’t reduced the need for human talent, instead, it’s changing the profile of the skills that are most in demand. Read the full article on CSO Online.

This year marked a special milestone for Leeds Digital Festival, its 10th anniversary. Over two weeks, the city came alive with events celebrating innovation, collaboration, and creativity across the region’s thriving digital community. As part of the celebrations, the Harvey Nash Leeds team was proud to host a screening of our latest Tech Flix film, Data’s Untold Story: The AI Energy Crisis. The film explores the growing energy demands of AI and data, and the urgent balance between innovation and sustainability. It set the tone for a festival full of big ideas, important questions, and inspiring conversations about where technology is heading next. The human element in an AI-driven world A recurring theme throughout the festival was clear: while AI is rapidly transforming industries, people remain at the centre of progress. From cybersecurity discussions highlighting how “when AI strikes, humans defend,” to debates on where humans belong in an AI-driven future, the message was consistent that although technology may redefine roles, it can’t replace the creativity, critical thinking, and ethical judgment that humans bring. Many sessions explored how businesses can harness AI to augment human ability rather than replace it. The conversations touched on responsible innovation, the importance of embedding ethics and sustainability from the outset, and the growing need for frameworks to guide AI’s impact across sectors. Building, innovating, and transforming at speed Leeds Digital Festival also showcased just how quickly ideas can move from concept to creation. Live demonstrations, including building a functional app in under 90 minutes, captured the energy and collaboration driving the city’s tech scene. For our team, it was a reminder that in fast-moving environments, having access to people with the right mix of skills and adaptability is just as critical as the tools they use. This reinforces the importance of understanding emerging roles, new skill sets, and the ways organisations are leveraging talent to bring ideas to life quickly. Laying the foundations for responsible AI Another standout theme was the strategic role of AI across industries, including the public sector. Sessions highlighted the need for ethics, governance, and trust, as well as the infrastructure, skills, and institutions required to scale AI responsibly. Discussions explored how governments, public bodies, and major tech players can work together to ensure AI benefits everyone, from fostering innovation and investment to embedding transparency and accountability in deployment. These insights drove a key message that responsible AI isn’t just a technical challenge; it’s a collaborative, strategic one. Data as a force for change The festival also showcased the power of data to drive smarter, more human-centred decision-making. From retail to logistics, data leaders shared how they’re turning insights into tangible outcomes, improving customer experiences, streamlining operations, and driving value across organisations. Hearing from ASDA’s Data Science team offered a glimpse into how large-scale analytics can be both technical and practical, balancing innovation with real-world business impact. The evolving landscape of digital innovation in Leeds Across every discussion, Leeds’ digital community demonstrated why the city continues to lead in tech. From AI ethics and cybersecurity to logistics automation and app innovation, the festival spotlighted a region that’s pushing boundaries while staying grounded in purpose. For the Harvey Nash Leeds team, it was a chance to connect, learn, and reflect on the role people, partnerships, and responsible innovation play in shaping the future. Looking ahead As we wrap up this year’s festival, one thing stands out: technology will continue to evolve at pace, but it’s collaboration, creativity, and conscience that will define its true impact. A huge thank you to Leeds Digital Festival for an incredible 10th anniversary celebration, and to everyone who made it such an inspiring two weeks for the city’s digital community.

On 25th September, we were delighted to host an event as part of Leeds Digital Festival’s 10th anniversary celebrations, a two-week programme showcasing innovation, collaboration and creativity across the city’s thriving digital community. As part of the festival, we screened the latest instalment in our Tech Flix documentary series: Data’s Untold Story: The AI Energy Crisis. The film takes a closer look at one of technology’s most urgent challenges, the growing energy demands of artificial intelligence and data. Both inspiring and sobering, it highlights the duality of AI: its enormous potential to transform the way we live and work, and the equally significant risks it poses to our planet if left unchecked. A panel with diverse perspectives Following the screening, we welcomed an expert panel to reflect on the film and debate its themes: Vinny Leach, Portfolio Delivery Manager at Avanade Heather Dawe, Chief Data Scientist, UK and Head of Responsible AI at UST Arash Rabbani, Assistant Professor in Computer Science at the University of Leeds Together, they brought perspectives spanning industry, academia and responsible AI practice. Sustainability versus profit One of the central questions raised during the discussion was: Are we, as individuals and organisations, truly prioritising the environmental impact of AI, or are we too focused on the profit margins it promises? This prompted a rich debate. Some argued that the drive for commercial gain too often overshadows the urgent need to address sustainability, while others highlighted the potential for businesses to align profit with positive impact, provided they embed sustainability into their innovation strategies from the outset. The call for regulation and frameworks Another recurring theme was the pressing need for regulation. As AI adoption accelerates across industries, the panel stressed that without a robust framework to govern its development and deployment, the environmental and ethical risks will only deepen. True progress, they argued, requires collaboration between industry, academia and government to establish clear guardrails and hold organisations accountable. A moment of reflection As the credits rolled and the conversation continued, it was clear that the event had done more than just spark dialogue — it had left attendees with important questions to carry back into their own organisations. For many of us, one question lingered above all: are we doing enough, quickly enough, to ensure that AI is not only innovative and profitable, but also ethical and sustainable? Thank you A huge thank you to Leeds Digital Festival for welcoming us as part of their milestone 10th anniversary edition, and to everyone who joined us for the session. Most of all, we’d like to thank our brilliant panellists for sharing their insight and sparking such a thought-provoking discussion. You can now watch Data’s Untold Story: The AI Energy Crisis online. We hope it sparks conversation, reflection, and action towards a more responsible and sustainable digital future.

The tech recruitment market has grown more competitive in recent years, with economic uncertainty, rising costs and offshore hiring affecting opportunities. Many professionals are staying longer in their current roles, which means fewer openings and tougher competition. Yet demand remains strong in areas such as software development, big data, cyber security and, in particular, roles requiring proven experience with AI. In an article for Computer Weekly, Managing Consultant at Harvey Nash, Alex Reeder, shares six key tips to help candidates succeed in this environment. He highlights the importance of specialising in both technologies and industry sectors, building a career history that demonstrates longevity, and keeping profiles up to date so employers and recruiters can easily identify relevant skills. He also warns against a scattergun approach to applications, underlining the value of targeting the right roles, and stresses that while AI can be a powerful support tool in the job search, it should never replace personal effort and authenticity. Finally, he emphasises that recruitment is still a people business and that building relationships with recruiters and hiring teams can make a real difference. Alex also points to the importance of preparation, realistic expectations and persistence, encouraging professionals to back themselves and approach their job search with confidence and commitment. Read the full article on Computer Weekly