Information technology : Typical employers

Big players

• Acccenture, IBM, Logica and Microsoft are amongst the biggest names in the IT industry providing expert support and services to other organisations.
• Over half of IT professionals find IT roles outside of the IT industry with companies providing services via hardware and software, web development and specialist consultancies services for niche markets for example. Examples of these are Ernst and Young, Deloitte, KPMG and BDO Stoy Hayward.
• Financial services firms such as JP Morgan, Bloomberg and Morgan Stanley require highly secure, high quality IT systems for all their global daily banking transactions. There is also some outsourcing of their functions via software development companies such as Scott Logic Ltd.
• The retail industry has business-focused IT jobs available; indeed most of the major retailers such as Sainsbury’s and Tesco will use a variety of IT systems to support a whole range of functions. Look out for opportunities via their graduate training schemes.
• The telecommunications industry is one which is fast paced and rapidly expanding providing mobile services, broadband, land telephony, IPTV and Video on Demand services. Key players are BT, Vodaphone, Orange and T-Mobile.
• The public sector, which includes local authorities, central government and the NHS, offers a variety of IT roles.
• The manufacturing industry is a key user of all aspects of IT and opportunities exist in multinational engineering companies in the oil, pharmaceutical, automotive parts and energy industries. Examples of key players are GlaxoSmithkline, npower and Amec.
• The games development industry has a good UK presence. Many of the larger companies have studios in the UK and include companies such as MGS, Sony, Rockstar and Disney. Many smaller companies offer opportunities in all aspects of games development.

Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

The IT industry provides a plethora of employment opportunities within small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). SMEs are organisations with less than 250 employees and an annual turnover of no more than £26million. Working for a smaller company can be rewarding because you are more likely to forge a path for yourself within the company, although opportunities to try other departments may be limited.

SMEs are unlikely to use the testing and assessment techniques of larger companies, or follow lengthy recruitment procedures. SMEs are more likely to advertise their vacancies through the local press, university careers service bulletins, local graduate vacancy listings, jobcentres, and word of mouth, rather than rely on their reputation and a presence at graduate recruitment fairs.

Careers services should have listings of jobs with small firms; see also the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) 

Self-employment

Small businesses that cannot afford their own full-time IT staff provide an excellent market for self-employed IT professionals. Opportunities exist for those looking to work as IT consultants, IT trainers and web designers. During tough financial periods, self-employment may be an attractive option as more organisations choose to outsource their non-core functions.

Self-employment is demanding but can be very rewarding. To learn more about how to get started, see self-employment.