Recruiter backs tech industry to help London jobs recovery

ONE of Britain’s biggest recruiters today said the technology industry will help keep the London jobs market moving as City roles dry up.

Paul Venables, the finance director of Hays, said that — amid the toughest market of his 14 years in the role — companies were still on the hunt for digital skills, and were pressing ahead with job searches put on ice in March.

He said: “There has been a drop-off in professions like accountancy, finance, and legal but companies are still very interested in IT and life sciences.

“IT is down 9% overall but only 6% in London. We continue to recruit and hire in London, which is doing better than other regions.”

Hays saw group quarterly income from fees slump 34%, with the UK down 42%, hit by a longer lockdown than most nations. Its London income fell 37%.

The FTSE 250 firm cut costs and said it is trading at “break even” levels. Shares fell 4% to 122p.

Venables said the company plans to hire its own specialists in digital industries, to recruit for jobs in everything from cyber-security to data analysis.

Stephen Kelly, the former Sage boss and chair of Tech Nation, said today that the digital sector would play a “critical role” in providing jobs for those laid off in sectors harder hit by Covid. “We want to see the Government support the essential digital upskilling of the nation, specifically targeting those regions outside of London,” he said, adding that cash should be ploughed into enabling work placements in tech firms.