Professional services firm FDM Group plans to hire over 2,000 new IT trainees, which is a result considering the adverse impact of COVID-19 on employment levels. More importantly, could this recruitment move bolster minority recruitment in the tech sector?
According to a released statement, one-third of hires will be in the UK, while the rest will be across the US and Asia-Pacific region.
The company, which is known to be a global leader in the recruit, train and deploy sector, has a good track record for inclusivity and is known to hire and train graduates, ex-armed forces, and women who are returning to the workplace, but could this next hiring cohort shake up representation in the tech sector even more?
Minority recruitment in the tech sector
FDM’s hiring drive follows growing demands for its consultants among its client base, including major banks, management consultancy groups, and global professional services companies seeking professionals with knowledge of digital transformation, DevOps, and information security cloud computing.
There is reason to believe the group may use this growing demand as an opportunity to hire IT trainees from BAME backgrounds. Last year, they stated plans for “further investment in its diversity initiatives” for hiring BAME candidates.
On the gender front, they achieved a median pay gap of -2.1% in 2020, making them one of the UK’s most gender-inclusive companies. This alone could encourage more female candidates, including women returning to work, to apply for the new roles.
Commenting on the recruitment drive, Rod Flavell, CEO of the FDM Group, said: “The COVID-19 outbreak sent shockwaves through the global business community, forcing many employers to scale back operations and shift to a remote working model to adhere to social distancing rules.
“One year on, with the vaccine programme in full swing and infection rates declining, businesses are raring to go, with plans to build back better and drive a major economic recovery. Digital skills sit at the very heart of this mission, enabling businesses to operate efficiently, adapt to new market conditions and transform customer services.
“Already this year, we’ve received 1,500 job applications from candidates looking for a career in technology. Our recruitment teams have been inundated with CVs, and we’re aiming to hire at least 2,000 recruits this year across our business. If you’re looking for a career in the technology industry, there has never been a better time to put your name forward, with digital skills being a must-have for ambitious companies looking to reboot, rebuild and grow again.”
Women and BAME representation in tech
FDM’s recruitment drive comes at a good time for diversity in the tech sector, especially in the UK, where growing demands for digital services could help create more jobs for people from underrepresented backgrounds where gender equity currently sits at 19% and BAME representation at 15%.
These statistics are at odds with the UK’s tech industry’s success, which is growing three times faster than the rest of the economy. However, FDM’s recruitment project, especially with its focus on UK roles, could be a great way to bring working mothers and ethnic minorities into the white and male-dominated space.
