# Over a third of UK firms looking to globalise IT to access tech talent outside the UK
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2017-09-12
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: Businesses Invest in Global Infrastructure to Combat Skills
Meta Description: Discover how UK organisations are investing in global infrastructure to combat the IT skills shortage, experiencing higher costs and delays in digital
URL: https://financedigest.com/over-a-third-of-uk-firms-looking-to-globalise-it-to-access-tech-talent-outside-the-ukhtml

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_Businesses to invest in global infrastructure to combat skills shortage_

With nearly six in 10 (59%) organisations committed to pursuing digitalisation over the next year, the cost of skills to support digital transformation projects is on average 31% higher than other IT projects in the UK. A survey of 120 UK IT leaders by [Interoute](http://www.interoute.com/), the global cloud and network provider, has revealed there is a consensus among 96% of organisations that the cost of professionals with expertise in digital transformation is higher than for other IT initiatives, with nearly half (48%) seeing the skills shortage as a problem.

As organisations pursue digital transformation projects to remain competitive and adapt to change, there is a need to connect with a wider talent pool. The majority of organisations (87%) are reliant on contractors that can support projects on an interim basis. On average, 42% of employees working on [digital transformation](https://www.financedigest.com/is-the-road-to-data-transformation-slowing-digital-transformation.html "Is the road to data transformation slowing digital transformation?") projects don’t have a UK passport. As flexible and multi-cultural IT teams become the enabler of digital transformation, the [skills gap](https://www.financedigest.com/tackling-the-cloud-skills-gap-in-financial-services.html "Tackling the cloud skills gap in financial services") could be inflated if the capacity to hire digital talent is restricted by post-Brexit policies or changes governing how contractors are employed.

More than three quarters of organisations (76%) indicate that any restrictions on hiring contractors would impact timescales for their [digital transformation](https://www.financedigest.com/the-root-of-all-good-sustainabilitys-role-in-digital-transformation.html "The Root of All Good: Sustainability’s role in Digital Transformation") projects. For [nearly half](https://www.financedigest.com/meta-to-take-nearly-half-of-sales-made-by-its-metaverse-creators-as-fees.html "Meta to take nearly half of sales made by its metaverse creators as fees") (48%), an inability to hire interim support would delay projects by six months, while the business recruits permanent staff. A further 28% state an inability to hire contractors would halt [digital transformation](https://www.financedigest.com/evolution-not-revolution-digital-transformation-today.html "EVOLUTION, NOT REVOLUTION: Digital transformation today") plans completely. More than one in 10 (11%) believe that being unable to employ contractors would increase their overall cost of skills and talent.

In response, more than four in 10 businesses (42%) have made it an objective to enhance the employee [experience so the workforce](https://www.financedigest.com/personalizing-the-workforce-experience-in-financial-services.html "Personalizing the Workforce Experience in Financial Services") can collaborate more. By enabling mobile and social capabilities, there is an [opportunity to introduce digital](https://www.financedigest.com/digital-health-market-size-to-gain-traction-of-us-536-6-billion-growth-opportunities-by-2025-transparency-market-research.html "Digital Health Market Size to Gain Traction of US$ 536.6 Billion, Growth Opportunities by 2025: Transparency Market Research") environments that can bring together dispersed and mobile working groups in the very moment they need to connect. An additional 38% are also looking to globalise their infrastructure so the business can use skills from outside their geographic location as part of [digital transformation](https://www.financedigest.com/the-d-mannose-market-to-walk-through-digital-transformation-stampede.html "The D-Mannose Market To Walk Through Digital Transformation Stampede") plans.

“Businesses are relying on [digital transformation projects to deliver their long-term future](https://www.financedigest.com/the-future-of-fintech-forging-ahead-with-digital-transformation.html "The future of fintech: Forging ahead with digital transformation") success in a changing world,” commented Mark Lewis, EVP Products and Development at Interoute.  “Faced with a short supply and [higher cost](https://www.financedigest.com/ds-smith-says-cardboard-box-volumes-strong-flags-higher-costs.html "DS Smith says cardboard box volumes strong; flags higher costs") base for digital skills, organisations are not just looking at ways to access more talent, but also looking to focus that talent on the specific technology that differentiates their business. They want to avoid drawn-out systems and infrastructure integration projects that can be costly, take a long [time to become operational](https://www.financedigest.com/coca-cola-hbc-flags-one-time-195-million-hit-from-russian-operations.html "Coca-Cola HBC flags one-time 5 million hit from Russian operations") and be slow to evolve. The [key here is to enable your organisation to shift from worrying about piecing together network and clouds to instead choosing and developing](https://www.financedigest.com/automotive-mems-sensor-market-key-manufacturers-development-trends-and-competitive-analysis-2028.html "Automotive MEMS Sensor Market Key Manufacturers, Development Trends and Competitive Analysis 2028") your best software. Do this by leveraging pre-integrated global infrastructure, so your most valuable skills can be put towards making a difference for your business.”

The report [_‘Transforming for Success in a Changing World’_](http://www.interoute.com/uk-research-transforming-success-changing-world?utm_source=Press+Release&utm_medium=Global+Press&utm_campaign=2017+Digital+Transformation+Research) is about building skills by deploying flexible, scalable and secure IT platforms. It includes results from a survey of 120 IT [leaders in the UK and explores the factors governing](https://www.financedigest.com/economic-outlook-has-darkened-business-and-government-leaders-warn-in-davos.html "Economic outlook has ‘darkened’, business and government leaders warn in Davos") IT decision making and how senior IT professionals are preparing for change.


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