Computing employment boosted

Published June 2011

Computing employment is holding up well in Hastings, according to the course leader of one of the computing courses at the University of Brighton’s campus in Hastings.

Six out of seven graduates this year were signed up to local companies before they had even picked up their degree certificates. The other graduate is taking a postgraduate course at the university.

Gerard Allsop, course leader for Digital Games Production, puts the recruitment drive down to several factors.

“Despite the recession in other industries, the pace and growth of mobile computing and social media means that there’s intense commercial pressure from large companies wanting creative solutions. Local companies and agencies which develop projects for large clients need people with the latest skills, so naturally they look for people who have recently finished studying.

“One of the regeneration strands supported by Hastings Borough Council, connectivity, also appears to be making in impact. A number of smaller ecommerce start-ups as well as several larger IT agencies are now based in Hastings.

“Over the years, first as UCH and now as the University of Brighton in Hastings, and of course through our graduates’ successes, we’ve made a good name, so people often come to us.

“Our students learn skills not just for one job but for a whole career – they’ll gain expertise in a range of areas. They also bring real world experience to the workplace when they finish their degrees. All our computing students are offered work placements, the chance to work on exciting live projects and make good contacts. Companies, including the BBC, are keen for placements students and recently we have had more opportunities than people to fill them.”

Mr Allsop has seen people from a range of backgrounds succeed in degrees and then careers in computing: “You don’t necessarily have to have a technical background, but you need to be good at problem-solving and interested in finding out how things work. It’s no different from any other degree. You just need to apply yourself and work hard.”