Talent shortages threaten UK recovery – vacancies at 20-year high

New data from the ONS has revealed that the UK’s skills shortage looks to be deepening, with the number of vacancies hitting a 20-year high of nearly 1.2 million, yet many firms are struggling to fill vacant positions and now the availability of workers has hit a 24-year low. While the end of the government’s furlough scheme has arguably deepened a skills-crisis the likes of which have never been seen. A new report has also outlined the crippling shortage of programmers and software development professionals, where 68,929 vacancies exist in a sector that has come to be more vital than ever for the survival of businesses.

In this period, the traditional methods of recruitment – taking on average 63 days to fill a position – are becoming defunct. With this in mind, DCSL GuideSmiths – a business that assists businesses in digital transformation – have significantly expanded their Team Augmentation proposition to market, filling vital vacancies in less than 3 weeks in some of the most sought-after/highly skilled sectors, ranging from software development to programming. Importantly, the service slashes the cost of high-end “parachute” talent, with the costs of recruitment often spiralling to up to £50,000, DCSL GuideSmiths deliver entire projects with significant savings compared to traditional recruitment.

Nick Thompson CEO of DCSL GuideSmiths (https://www.dcsl.com) is keen to discuss:
How the end of furlough will affect the UK job market
The application crisis and why traditional recruitment is not working
How Brexit and the Pandemic has affected the software developer market
Practical advice for firms in desperate need of talent to survive
Why team augmentation may provide a faster and cheaper solution to staff shortages

Surviving but not thriving

Furlough, bounce back loans and CBILS loans have helped thousands of businesses survive the pandemic in the UK, but with this extensive raft of support measures now coming to an end, the second phase of true recovery is upon the founders and decision makers who have navigated their firms through the imminent period post crisis. Encouragingly, UK business confidence has hit a four-year high, however in the latest analysis report from Lloyds Bank, companies highlighted concerns about a skills-shortage as the primary concern for sustained survival and growth. On top of that, recruitment company Hays has warned over ‘clear signs’ of skills shortages worldwide stating salaries are rising in IT, technology and life science sectors as a result.

What is Team Augmentation?

Team Augmentation tackles one of the biggest challenges in the world of software development – sourcing the correct talent at the opportune moment it is needed. Team Augmentation provides top level, critical talent to businesses where and when they most need it at a fraction of the cost. DCSL GuideSmiths have a team of over 300 software developers and programmers that can be plugged into any team, to deliver top quality talent that combine the benefits of both outside contractors and in-house team.

How it Works – Team Augmentation Specialisms

The process begins with understanding project requirements, identifying deliverables, the talent required and the timeline, at which point DCSL GuideSmiths match the requirements with a team of over 300 skilled software engineers. Onboarding then integrates the new resource into the existing business, ensuring that it aligns to the values, processes and procedures of the company. Finally, through weekly catchups and monthly feedback, DCSL GuideSmiths ensure they are providing continual support toward project delivery.

Nick Thompson, CEO of DCSL GuideSmiths, discusses the service and why it could be key to the survival and growth of thousands of SMEs:

“Our Team Augmentation service is here to help small businesses gain access to the kind of talent that is often swallowed up by the big players. Not only that, it allows access to this talent at a fraction of the cost of traditional routes. The other main advantage is the time it takes to plug gaps in the team, with traditional methods taking, on average, 63 days. Our team augmentation offer will deliver it significantly faster.

“The shortage of programmers and software developers has come at a time when businesses need them most, with many relying on digital transformation and app development for their growth and survival. Thousands of businesses have survived Covid only to find themselves stuck in a dearth of the skilled individuals needed to grow and bounce back.”