Contract - Market Highlights authored by Jane Stevens, Jenrick IT

Development/ Support

We have noticed a continued demand for experienced developers with the ability to write new code, bug fix and support applications/products within the finance markets. Java and C# jostle neck and neck as the code of choice and there is always a need for developers with strong communication skills who can not only operate within back office / database environments but are also able to sit comfortably within the front office space, having a decent understanding of products and the ability to talk knowledgeably with the business / third party suppliers and end customers.

C++ on both Unix (Linux) and Windows although more niche, definitely has a role to play within the markets. The supply of experienced developers in this field has contracted due to the fact that candidates originally based in the C/C++ arena, have ported their skillset across to what they see in the market as the more saleable C# / .Net skills. However, certainly in the foreseeable future, there will always be a small but definite trickle of C++ requirements for the specialist within this field.

Web based development within the .Net space continues to hold strong and we see this rolling well into next year in the same vein.

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Suppliers to a state IT contractor who would normally be cashing their invoices were out of pocket last night following its decision to double the time it takes to pay them.

Northgate Information Solutions, which boasts a strong portfolio of public sector IT contracts, said suppliers would have to wait 60 days, up from 30 days, to be paid. (more…)

David Cameron, the Conservative leader, has called the government to broaden its base of IT contractors away from large technology companies like Capita.

Rather than simply being reserved for the “the big players”, the Tory leader said contracts for the supply of services to the government should go to smaller outfits.
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