Public sector IT will weather storm, says Parity chief
~ sees boom in demand for skills from Catalist framework ~
June 2008
Parity’s chief executive is predicting a promising 2008 for public sector IT, despite doom and gloom in the marketplace. This follows news that Parity’s Resources division has ranked as the top supplier of IT specialist contractors to the public sector through OGCbuying.solutions’ Catalist framework, every month in 2008 so far. Parity is seeing no let up in the demand for key IT skills across the full range of central and local government departments, and has already exceeded £16 million in turnover from the Catalist buying framework alone to end of May.
Despite widespread nervousness in the recruitment market caused by talk of an economic slow down, Parity Resources will earn nearly £70 million in revenue from the public sector in 2008 to date on current spend levels. Parity delivers to over 90 clients in the public sector, winning additional client frameworks such as Land Registry and MoD among its 28 new clients this year. Its position in the Catalist framework gives Parity a market share of over 25 per cent across a supply base of thirteen approved suppliers.
“We’re not seeing anything like the doom and gloom predicted for the recruitment market, as demand for key IT skills remains high,” commented Alwyn Welch, CEO at Parity. “Significant parts of our industry are far better positioned to survive any downturn than in the last recession. Indeed, as investment in IT in the public sector is essential to deliver overall cost savings together with improved service, it's unlikely that hiring in skills will face material cutbacks.”
Welch continued: “The public sector is becoming an increasingly attractive option for IT professionals. Pay has gone up to compete with the private sector for the best talent, and with the perception that public sector work is a safer bet there is likely to be continued skills migration from private sector.”
“The final piece of the jigsaw is the changing mix of skills. Developments in the technology used to create and maintain IT systems, combined with the move of certain types of IT delivery offshore, is creating a real shortage of specialist key skills – including the majority of skills we provide to the public sector through Catalist. We cannot see that shortage reducing,” concluded Welch.
Notes to Editors:
About Parity Resources in Government
Since it was established in 1990, Parity’s Resources division has made significant investments in structuring the business to provide the best support to both public and commercial organisations.
Parity currently supplies IT and project and programme management (PPM) contract staff within the IT and PPM categories of OGCbuying.solutions’ Catalist Specialist Contractors framework agreement – the successor to S-Cat.
Parity Resources’ clients span a wide range of sectors and include large Government departments including Department for Health, Home Office, Ministry of Justice and HMRC.
About Parity
Parity is a leading IT technology and resource services organisation delivering a range of technical, resource and training solutions that contribute to the business growth and economic performance of private and public sector clients. Their experience allows for effective business transformation through innovative managed service and outsourced programmes.
Parity's 30 years’ expertise in Project and Programme Management minimises business risk associated with systems implementation, integration or business change for clients. Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Parity recorded a turnover of over £150m in 2007.
Parity has deep industry knowledge and expertise in Finance, Utilities, Telecoms and the Public Sector delivering people, skills and concepts for IT projects and programmes throughout the UK. Parity have provided these services to a range of blue-chip clients, including BAT, Ministry of Defence, BT, DWP, Ofgem, Ministry of Justice and Northern Ireland Electricity.
http://www.parity.net
For further information, please contact:
Isabel García-Imhof, Marketing Campaign Manager, Parity Resources
i.garcia-imhof@parity.net
0845 873 0762