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Is ai distorting and transforming the principals of company building? The latest Tech Flix documentary hosted by Technology Evangelist David Savage delves into the challenges and opportunities faced by first-time founders, seasoned entrepreneurs, investors and enterprise tech experts. Technology is acting as a competitive accelerator with faster development cycles created and a global outlook from day one, investors are shifting their horizons with profitability an increasing consideration despite the top-line industry figures, and the need for specialist expert talent acquisition is underscored by the narrowing margins of success. Discover the full film which includes clips from tech bbq conference hosted in Copenhagen. Tech Flix Tech Flix is an innovative and thought-provoking docuseries hosted by Nash Squared Tech Evangelist,David Savage, that delves deep into the dynamic world of technology, where cutting-edge innovation meets human ingenuity. In this captivating exploration, David embarks on a journey to unravel various aspects of the tech universe, from the pioneers shaping our digital future to the ethical dilemmas that arise in an ever-connected world.

Last week Harvey Nash and Nash Tech had the pleasure of hosting 30 digital and technology leaders from across the Midlands at the Bank restaurant in central Birmingham. It was the first leadership dinner of 2025 and the evening didn’t disappoint. Upon arrival the attendees spent an hour networking, catching up with old friends and making new acquaintances. Our guests came from a variety of backgrounds and industries, some working for globally recognised corporate brands, others employed by mid-size organisations and start up enterprises. However, similar challenges effect all delegates including driving successful digital transformations, the ongoing need for strong cyber credentials as well as maximising a company’s data to deliver business and customer value return. Once seated we enjoyed a lovely meal with breaks for keynote speeches. The first was from Bridgette Bigmore, the CTO for the UK Telecoms Lab at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL). Bridgette delivered fascinating insight into the organisation with it being recognised as a world leading centre of excellence in telecoms security. We learnt that they provide best in class test and evaluation capabilities to safeguard the UKs critical national telecoms infrastructure from external threats. Later Jon Woodforth, CTO from Totalmobile talked about their AI focused Unified Data Platform which powers their business and supports the work and lives of over 500,000 field-based workers. Both talks were very well received and were the catalyst for further debate as we enjoyed our main courses and deserts. The evening was a great success, with all the digital and technology leaders sharing valuable ideas, challenging one another’s thinking and having peers who understood many of the challenges they’re facing in today’s market. If you’re interested in finding out more about our events, please reach out to our team here. And to find out more about our services at Harvey Nash, please contact our teamhere. About the author: Peter Birch Peter is a Director with over 20 years of experience specialising in hiring C-suite level individuals across the globe. Working across various companies, Peter’s experience extends from large corporations through to start-up enterprises. If you’re interested in speaking with Peter, please get in touch at peter.birch@harveynash.com.

Reinventing dating apps for genuine human connection In this Tech Talks podcast episode David Savage speaks to Zaahirah Adam, the founder of hati. Zaahirah discusses her innovative solution, designed to combat the disconnected nature of modern dating platforms and actually deliver that one meaningful connection. Driven by personal experiences familiar to so many people, hati aims to prioritise genuine human connection over algorithmic matching and superficial interactions. Tech Talks Podcast Tech Talks is a podcast that probes the minds of tech leaders, hosted by Technology Evangelist David Savage. Each week, the show releases three episodes with new guests, covering the latest tech news, exploring new products and cultural transformations that drive the tech industry. Founded in 2015 Tech Talks has published over 650 episodes and attracts over 18,500 streams a month from a global audience. The podcast offers insights and ideas from leading technologists on culture, innovation, finance, growth, sustainability, and more, providing a platform for the c-suite, founders, and senior figures to hear from others facing similar challenges and tap into a wider community.

We recently hosted an exclusive event in New York in partnership with NASA's Goddard Space Flight Centre in the USA, where we premiered our latest Tech Flix Documentary, "AI and Robotics: Exploring the Next Frontier with AI."

In the ever-evolving tech industry, staying relevant and competitive is crucial. Whether you’re returning after a career break or looking to pivot within the industry, here are our top 4 essential tips to help you reposition yourself and land your next role, with insights and expert advice from Sandra Erickson, Director of our team in Newcastle. With over 15 years of experience in recruiting for senior level positions, Sandra has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to helping jobseekers rejoin the workforce and providing insights into navigating the ever-changing technology landscape. 1. Refresh your CV with the latest trends Your CV is your first impression, so make it count. Highlight your most recent experiences and skills, particularly those relevant to the rolesyou’re actively targeting. Use keywords like “cloud computing,” “AI,” “cybersecurity,” or “data analytics” to align with current industry demands. Consider adding a section for certifications and courses to showcase your commitment to continuous learning. “When applying for roles, your cv may be viewed by multiple stakeholders,” says Sandra. “My advice would be to always tailor your cv to the role that you are applying for, rather than having a one size fits all approach. Ensure you have a summary profile that speaks directly to the reader in terms of how your skills, experience and transferable skills are relevant to the role.” 2. Leverage your network Networkingremains a powerful tool in job hunting. Reconnect with former colleagues, attend industry events, and engage in online tech communities. Platforms like LinkedIn are invaluable for making connections and staying updated on job opportunities. Don’t be afraid to reach out for informational interviews or referrals from mutual connections or past colleagues. “Networking is often overlooked in today's increasingly connected world, but it’s essential to start making connections in your field of interest,” adds Sandra. “Using platforms such as Eventbrite will inform you of events in your area that match your interests. Our teams at Harvey Nash are well placed to support you, hosting many events that you’d be welcomed to, in most major locations across the UK and Ireland.” 3. Prepare for technical interviews Technical interviews can be daunting, but preparation is key. Brush up on core concepts and practice coding problems on platforms likeLeetCode or HackerRank. You should always be ready to discuss your past projects and how you’ve solved complex problems. And remember, interviewers are looking for problem-solving skills and a collaborative mindset. "In my experience, technical interviews are an opportunity for you to showcase how you think through technical challenges. It allows you to demonstrate how you navigate through complexity and builds the interviewers confidence in you and your abilities.” For more tips on preparing for your technical interview, Indeed have published an article here: How To Prepare for a Technical Interview in 6 Steps 4.Showcase soft skills While technical prowess is essential,don’t underestimate the value of soft skills. Communication, teamwork, and adaptability are highly sought after in tech roles. Don’t hesitate to highlight these skills in your CV and be prepared to discuss them during your interviews. Prepare examples that you can provide during your interview of how you’ve successfully worked in teams or managed projects. "Effectively, technology roles are business focused roles and being able to demonstrate softer skills on how you engage with business stakeholders is essential. This is also an opportunity to demonstrate any transferable skills that you have gained whilst being out of the workforce.” Discover why soft skills matter in tech with a detailed article by Indeed here: 10 Reasons Why Soft Skills Are Important For Your Career Summary Although the emphasis is often put onto the technical interviewportion of the hiring process, it’s important to remember that it’s not the only requirement for a role. Organisations are becoming increasingly interested in hiring people that can fit into their business and become a part of the wider team. It’s a careful balancing act, but if you are able to focus your time and efforts on all the areas above, you are bound to see improvements. Stay proactive, keep learning, and leverage your network to navigate your career journey successfully. And by following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to securing your next role in the tech industry. If you are looking to rejoin the workforce, don’t hesitate to reach out to Sandra at Sandra.Erickson@harveynash.com And discover our latest roles here.

What do digital leaders think of the current technology landscape? On the 28th of November we hosted our 25th annual Digital Leadership Report dinner at the Scotsman Hotel, which gathered digital leaders from across Edinburgh to discuss the key topics shaping the technology sector. The evening was enlightening, with insights from a cross section of Technology organisations across financial services, public and private sectors, all from corporate scale to SME and start-ups. Our diverse guests provided a truly varied range of opinions and experiences on the current state of the technology industry, allowing us to consider many different perspectives on some of the biggest questions currently in the industry. AI adoption One of the most fascinating discussions of the evening was regarding the adoption of AI within the workplace and the vast differences in utilisation between the smaller technology companies and the larger corporate environments. Interestingly enough, many of the leaders in the room perceived a need for a ‘Chief AI Officer’ type role, as organisation's grapple with the governance of the pace of change within this realm. We are beginning to see a trend towards appointment of, at the very least, AI “SME’s” with one client already committing to an AI board, overseeing best practice, areas of application and hypothetical integration in future. Turning our focus to NetZero One area that stood out as needing attention, is sustainability. According to our Digital Leadership Report, a staggering 58% of tech companies currently have no plans for achieving Net Zero. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for the sector to innovate and lead in environmental responsibility. Thinking towards the future As we head into the new year, leaders are beginning to plan towards 2025, and discussions around the dinner table revealed that a quarter oforganisations in Scotland are engaged in large-scale projects involving AI, data, and the Metaverse. This revelation is a clear indication of the forward-thinking approach many digital leaders and organisations are adopting, to position themselves in the most efficient way to manage emerging, cutting-edge technological advancements.It should come as no surprise that a notable discussion point throughout the evening was the role of AI in the workforce. Tech leaders in Edinburgh support the sentiment that AI is not replacing jobs but rather supporting and enhancing organisational operations. This positive perspective is further evidenced by the emergence of AI boards and the role of the Chief AI Officer within companies. Summary The evening provided all those who attended with the opportunity to connect with like-minded digital leaders across Edinburgh and explore the largest topics affecting the tech industry. Thank you to everyone that joined us and to our Harvey Nash team who supported in bringing this group together. It was truly fabulous to connect, network, and have insightful discussions with such a dynamic group of individuals. If you’re interested in finding out more about the evening, please reach out to our Director in Scotland, Cameron MacGrain. And to find out more about our services at Harvey Nash, please contact our team here. If you would like to connect with the rest of our Harvey Nash team, you can find more information here: Andy Heyes, Kirsteen Bell, Kevin Robson, Bethany McKenzie and Craig Ross.

As we enter a new year, I don’t think many in the technology recruitment industry will be especially sad to leave 2024 behind. 2024 was quite a challenging year in which continued uncertainties dampened volumes and demand. Economic conditions improved a little, with inflation falling back to normal levels, but interest rates only edged down and, overall, rates of growth remained subdued. Combined with continuing geopolitical instability including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and the upheaval of elections in the UK, US and elsewhere, the market lacked the continuity and certainty needed to spur widespread, sustained recruitment activity. Companies were cautious, and candidates tended to favour staying put (and negotiating better terms) rather than risking a move – leading some to describe the year as ‘the great stay’. 2025 – key pockets of activity and growth Heading into 2025, I believe that the market will improve and reach a more stabilised level of demand. The OECD has recently upgraded its economic forecast for the UK, raising expected GDP growth in 2025 from 1.2% to 1.7% which puts the UK significantly ahead of European rivals like France and Germany, and behind only the US and Canada in the G7. While this rate of growth remains modest by historic standards, 2025’s growth rate is expected to be twice as fast as 2024, so this could stimulate economic activity and hiring. We also see signs that more technology professionals are looking to move during 2025. A pulse survey of intentions that we carried out on LinkedIn in December found that 68% of technologists were actively looking for a new role, while a further 9% were planning to start looking in the New Year. This represents an increase in activity from last summer when the Harvey Nash2024 Global Tech Talent & Salary Report found that 50% of UK tech professionals were looking to move to a new organisation in the coming 12 months. There are a number of areas where I expect to see increased recruitment demand: · Big Tech: The Big Tech firms have largely recovered following a period of retrenchment and are beginning to hire again. They are also continuing to invest in the UK – during 2024 Google, which already has more than 7,000 UK staff, pledged to invest $1 billion in anew data centrein Hertfordshire. Microsoft also committed to investing an extra £2.5 billion in the UK. · Financial services: The industry’s resourcing requirements have strengthened in recent months, and I expect to see continued activity, with particular demand on the contingent staff side. AI and machine learning are priority areas. · Public sector: With the government committing to increased investment in the public sector, I anticipate that the kickstarting of projects here will be accompanied by a renewed wave of hiring (particularly contingent staff) following a fallow period in the run-up to the election. The government also recently announced that it would be recruiting staff from tech start-ups in a secondment scheme to embed a ‘test and learn’ culture across government departments, backed by a £100m innovation fund. · Tech start-ups/scale-ups: AI and other emerging technologies are of strategic importance, and I expect the technology start-up and scale-up market to be a strong performer with a continuing need for talent. · Green tech: We are seeing continuing demand for technologists with expertise in green and clean technology solutions and materials as organisations pursue a sustainability agenda and work towards net zero goals. Headwinds to negotiate These factors will inject some life into the market – but there will also be a number of elements that tend to push in the other direction. Firstly, even if the UK may be better placed than some other major countries, the economic outlook continues to be underwhelming. There is also the significant wildcard of Donald Trump assuming the presidency in the US and the possibility of tariffs and increased trade wars. How much this may impact the UK is uncertain. What is certain, however, is that the world continues to be an unsettled and volatile place. Employers are set to continue to take a cautious approach. Secondly, the government’s planned increases to employer National Insurance contributions could have a significant impact. It is likely to have the biggest effect on sectors with high numbers of lower paid staff like retail, hospitality and leisure – but technology won’t be immune. In a global market where tech talent is available anywhere, the increased costs of employing UK talent may lead employers to invest in building or growing their technology teams in other locations instead. Added to this we have the government’s forthcoming package of workers’ rights which, while great news for individuals, will add to the cost and responsibilities of being an employer. Meeting some of the requirements could be a particular headache for start-ups and SMEs – and further incline them to invest in a more remote technology talent model. AI unknown One area that is still largely an unknown is AI. This continues to be a major focus for investment and exploration by businesses – but the real nature of its impact on technology recruitment remains unclear. As yet, it hasn’t led to an explosion in new AI-specific roles. Rather, there is an expectation that technologists can harness and use AI within their roles to enhance productivity and efficiency. It’s a skillset and a capability that is becoming expected. On the other hand, I am yet to see a clear example of job losses because of AI. In short, the impact of AI on the technology jobs market (in terms of number of hires) has so far been largely neutral. Needless to say, the technology is maturing and developing at a rapid pace – so could 2025 be the year that it begins to spawn new roles at scale? One way in which AI is having an impact is on the application process – with increasing numbers of candidates using AI tools to help them make tailored applications, and employers using AI to automate processes including candidate screening and scoring. My message here is simply not to lose the human touch. Candidates should be displaying their own personal skills and attributes, not over-depending on AI to do the work for them; while employers should build in checks to ensure the use of AI is inclusive and not excluding certain groups. They need to show that they are human and personalised organisations that care about people. The importance of culture in the competition for talent We know from the Harvey Nash 2024 Global Tech Talent & Salary Report that technology professionals are placing increasing value on the culture and working environment at an employer – this has become one of the keys to both attraction and retention. This is crucial because, even though we may not see booming conditions in the technology recruitment market, there will nevertheless continue to be significant competition for the best talent with skills shortages in priority areas such as data, engineering, AI/machine learning, software development and cyber. For instance, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) found in November that software engineers and developers are still one of the most in demand roles in the UK. The employers that can demonstrate a compelling employee value proposition (EVP) will have a significant advantage over the rest in attracting this talent. Diversity high on the agenda A further priority during 2025 which will also facilitate activity is the diversity agenda. We continue to see a real focus amongst employers on strengthening the diversity of their technology teams. They are looking to their partners and suppliers to help them do this – by encouraging applications from diverse talent sources, building relationships with under-represented parts of the community, and creating new recruitment pathways and talent schemes. Expect the unexpected? Overall, my expectation is that 2025 will be a solid but unspectacular year for technology recruitment. However, the nature of the market is that it can move from red to green at a moment’s notice – with no amber in between. We saw that in the post-Covid boom. That may have been the result of a fairly unique set of circumstances, but with AI developing at pace and many other unknowns, employers (and candidates) need to stay agile, flexible and prepared for the market to take an unexpected turn at any time. About the author Andy Heyesis the Managing Director Harvey Nash UKI, Central Europe, Australia & Spinks. He is also a member of Nash Squared Executive Leadership Team. Andy has been at Harvey Nash for 25 years and has extensive experience working across all sectors and industries. Starting out in the contracts division of the London Office, Andy quickly progressed and was appointed as Managing Director for the UK South Technology Recruitment Business in 2020.

We're delighted to invite you to take part in the 2025 Digital Leadership Report survey from Harvey Nash, part of Nash Squared, the world’s largest and longest-running study of its kind. Described by one digital leader as their “chance to get inside the minds of their peers”, the report captures the priorities and concerns of over 2,000 CIOs, CTOs and technology executives worldwide. Add your views by completing the survey today. The survey takes just 20 minutes to complete and covers key topics which are front of mind of all digital leaders today: · AI: What’s delivering real results now? · Investment: Where do I invest my budget when it comes to people and technology? · Compensation: Is my salary and benefits package competitive? · Budget: Does my budget stack up against others in the industry? Respondents will be among the first to receive a copy of the full report as well as sector and region-specific insights tailored to your needs. Take part today!

Harvey Nash exhibits at annual conference for public sector technology professionals As an exhibitor at Scotland’s largest digital transformation summit, we were thrilled to be part of an event that brought together over 1,200 delegates, 100 exhibitors, and more than 70 speakers. Digital Scotland is the premier gathering for public sector policy and technology leaders, dedicated to enhancing government services through cutting-edge technology. Our Scotland public sector team who attended included Executive Director Graeme McNaull and consultants Craig Ross, Shauna Cavanagh and Luke Thornborrow. This is the second year exhibiting at this conference and the team thoroughly enjoyed attending the variety of speeches and discussions as well as seeing and meeting technology professionals within the public sector. The team have summarised the conference’s whole day agenda below. Event Highlights: Ministerial Keynote: The summit kicked off with a keynote from Kim McAllister, reflecting on the past year's achievements and the strategic direction for the coming year. This set the tone for a day filled with insightful discussions and innovative ideas. International Perspectives: H.E. Mr. Viljar Lubi from the Estonian Government shared valuable insights on building a future digital society in the era of AI, emphasizing the relevance of past successes in shaping future strategies. Addressing Key Challenges: Hayden Edwards from BT Business highlighted Scotland's top digital transformation challenges, including budget constraints, talent acquisition, service improvement, legacy systems, sustainability, and security. “This was a brilliant speech focusing on how Scotland’s public sector’s transformation challenges, which we have seen with many of our existing clients. Hayden spoke about ensuring the right talent can not only be attracted into the public sector but also retained to ensure they can reach their digital transformation goals.” Graeme McNaull, Executive Director, Harvey Nash Public Sector Digital Home Nations Panel: A panel featuring Geoff Huggins, Paul Duffy, and Gina Gill discussed shared experiences and common challenges in delivering best-in-class digital public services across the UK. Geoff Huggins:Emphasised the need to focus on solutions that benefit multiple government services over the medium term rather than solving individual problems urgently. Gina Gill:Highlighted the importance of prioritising the best user experience for citizens to mobilise collective efforts towards better-connected services. Paul Duffy: Noted the impact of leadership gaps on service transformation in Northern Ireland but shared a positive vision with the establishment of a central digital office to drive improvements. Masterclass Sessions: The summit featured parallel masterclass sessions covering a wide range of topics: Connecting Scotland for Good: Alan Lees, Sally Fuller, and Robert Thorburn explored the future of ubiquitous connectivity and its potential to drive innovation and bridge the digital divide in Scotland. Leveraging AI: Jon Palin from Objective Corporation discussed how AI can enhance information governance outcomes within the Scottish public sector, providing practical knowledge on navigating AI complexities. Future-proofing Connectivity: Ewan Ferguson and David Nicoll shared insights on securing Scotland's public sector networks with Zero Trust architectures and Fortinet's SD-WAN solutions. Denmark’s Digital Success: Thomas Rysgaard Christiansen from Netcompany showcased how Denmark's digital transformation journey can inspire and shape Scotland's future. Networking Opportunities: The event provided ample opportunities for networking and collaboration. Attendees engaged in meaningful conversations during the networking breaks, fostering connections that will drive future innovations. Our public sector team thoroughly enjoyed seeing current clients as well as making new connections, hearing how digital transformation is at the core of Scotland’s public sector. “It was great to see a lot of familiar faces at the conference as we have been delivering to Scotland’s public sector for over two decades. It was a great opportunity to speak to delegates about what digital transformation targets they have in the pipeline but also how they will be resourcing these.” Craig Ross, Senior Consultant, Harvey Nash Public Sector Leadership Streams: In the afternoon, leadership streams focused on key areas such as cloud, citizen services, data, digital transformation, and automation. These sessions provided deep dives into specific topics, offering attendees valuable insights and practical strategies. Our team attended the cloud focused session titled- ‘from vision to reality- driving digital transformation and innovation’. The session included Nia Lewis from the Scottish Government who chaired the discussion, Alison McLaughlin from Disclosure Scotland, Isaac Smith from The Scottish Government, Dinesh Kumar Subramani from Amazon Web Services and Ann-Maries Gallacher from NHS 24. It was a great discussion delving into real example of successful digital transformation and innovation across the private and public sector. Ann-Marie Gallacher speaking during this leadership stream session. Closing Remarks: The conference concluded with a session on adapting and changing to keep public services at the forefront of the digital revolution. John-Paul Marks and Sidsel Skovborg emphasised the importance of continuous innovation and adaptation in the public sector. Final Thoughts: Digital Scotland 2024 was an inspiring and informative event, showcasing the latest advancements in GovTech, digital ID, cloud services, payments, AI, IoT, and cybersecurity. As exhibitors, we were proud to be part of the conversation and contribute to the future of digital government services. We look forward to continuing our support Scotland’s public sector and help our clients to deliver world-class digital experiences. Thank you to all the speakers, exhibitors, and delegates who made this event a success. An a massive thank you to FutureScot for organising the whole conference. We look forward to exhibiting next year. If you would like to find out more about the conference please visit Futurescothere or reach out to one of our public sector recruitment consultants here. Harvey Nash Public sector At Harvey Nash, we bring extensive experience in providing a comprehensive range of public sector recruitment services across the UK and Ireland. We understand the critical role that frameworks play in developing strong, formalised, and measurable partnerships with public sector clients. Our expertise ensures that we can guide you through these frameworks, helping you select the most suitable engagement route based on your specific needs. Let us help you navigate the complexities of public sector recruitment to achieve the best outcomes for your organisation. Discover our public sector recruitment here.