2023: Our Year, Wrapped!
We’re FDM, an award-winning global talent solutions partner. For over 30 years we’ve been powering the people behind tech - utilising emerging talent to deliver technical and business solutions to clients across the globe. With flexible contract terms, FDM provides scalable resources at short notice across multiple client sites.
📣 Whilst you are last minute present wrapping, we present to you a wrap up of FDM's highlights of year.
From women in tech, career development and AI trends, this article edition will give you a rundown of some of our favourite moments of the year, whilst providing you with insights, tips and some of our predictions for 2024!
Finally, happy holidays!
What to expect:
Who Runs the World? Women in Tech!
👫 Our Gender Pay Gap Report
We have always focused our attention on getting more women into the workforce, especially in underrepresented sectors like the tech industry. Over the past decade FDM have worked hard to support women with their career ambitions, proof of this can be seen in our Returners Programme and female-led initiatives like ‘She Lives Tech’.
Despite the national gender pay gap statistic having decreased from 14.9% in 2022 to 14.3% in 2023 in favour of male employees, the UK is still way off when it comes to equal pay. In comparison, FDM’s median pay gap was -4.3% in 2022 in favour of female employees and we are looking forward to announcing this year’s gender pay gap score in early 2024.
🚺 She Can Code Event
On 31st August, FDM proudly teamed up with SheCanCode, Women Returners, Supermums, and The Tech BAE Platform to orchestrate an extraordinary event!
We came together in our London office, where we spearheaded a transformative initiative aimed at revolutionising the experiences of returners and career transitioners in the tech industry.
Throughout the day, our dynamic community harnessed their skills to develop innovative applications and web solutions, directly addressing the challenges faced by women returning to the workforce after a hiatus.
This remarkable day was made possible through the generous support of our sponsors: Shell, Potato, Trainline, and Trust Payments.
Explore more highlights from the day here.
👋 Giusi Coppola: An intriguing journey back to work with FDM
Meet Guisi Coppola and read her story of getting back to work with FDM's Returners Programme after a ten-year career break.
"Choosing the FDM Returners Programme was a pivotal moment for me. After a decade-long career break, the comprehensive training and support offered by FDM stood out among other options. The fully funded training, coupled with a salary from day one, was a pleasant surprise compared to other companies that required payment for similar opportunities. The 'little bytes of knowledge' from FDM's training, encompassing both hard and soft skills, played a crucial role in my confidence development and professional growth. Despite some initial challenges, the one-week-per-subject approach allowed me to grasp the material, especially coming from a non-technical background. The weekly catch-ups with senior FDM team members provided a valuable pathway discussion, guiding us towards roles where we were most suited. Trusting FDM was key, and the ongoing support within the FDM 'family' has been instrumental in my successful return to the workforce. As I approach my first year in placement, I reflect on the journey with gratitude, knowing there's always someone at FDM to talk to and opportunities to upskill for those who seek continuous growth."
Read her story here.
The most used word this year was… AI
🦾 Top 10 AI skills you need to land your dream job in 2024
From programming to creativity, these skills are in high demand as the AI industry continues to boom.
Whether you're new to AI or looking to upskill, discover the competencies required to land your dream job. Explore the essential skills, from programming languages like Python to ethics considerations, and make your mark in the $360 billion global AI market projected for 2028.
These are the top 10 AI skills you will need:
1️⃣ Programming languages
2️⃣ Data modelling and analytics
3️⃣ Machine learning and deep learning
4️⃣ Libraries and frameworks
5️⃣ Mathematics and statistics
6️⃣ Natural Language Processing (NLP)
7️⃣ Problem-solving
8️⃣ Critical thinking
9️⃣ Creativity
1️⃣0️⃣ AI ethics
Read the full blog for a comprehensive guide to shaping your AI career in this rapidly evolving landscape!
🏭 AI in your Industry
Energy
Probably the least expected industry to be utilising artificial intelligence is the energy industry. But AI is playing a pivotal role to reduce costs and increase efficiencies in the sector. From smart grids to nuclear power plant monitoring, AI has had profound effects on the way energy companies operate, with new developments in AI-driven solutions every single week. Find out what the top applications for AI in the sector are.
Finance
When you think about public enemy no.1 in the Finance world what do you think of? That little old thing called financial crime. ‘FinCrime’ is every finance company’s Lex Luthor, however AI has now become the industry’s Superman, with the powerful tool revolutionising the approach to combatting financial crime. The existing, traditional methods of detecting illegal activities and fraud are becoming increasingly obsolete and with hefty regulatory fines, reputational damage and even insolvency looming there’s no wonder financial organisations are looking for new ways to fight crime. This is why we created a handy guide on the matter, 5 ways to use AI to fight financial crime.
Public sector
It’s safe to say the public sector has always been one step behind in terms of digital advances, with a need for updated systems and technology overdue. The government are making a commitment to invest an additional £8 billion in digital, data and technology transformation by 2025, this includes a projected spend of £1 billion on cutting the costs of paper-based solutions and a further £101 million per year on a strategic digital remuneration plan, aimed at reducing attrition rates and the high costs of external contractors. But what impacts are our experts predicting this will have on the sector? Check out the 8 biggest public sector technology trends in 2023.
🔍 AI’s most common Google searches
Earlier this year our FDM experts, Patrick Wake (Group Director of InfoSec) and Sarah Wyer (Data Architect), tackled some of the most googled questions about AI.
Watch here.
Recommended by LinkedIn
Our Roman Empire..Careers!
🏆 We have been awarded Flexi-job apprenticeship agency status
Back in November we made it onto the government's Flexi-job apprenticeship agencies register, showcasing our commitment to guiding apprentices in technology careers.
If you're seeking apprentices through a non-conventional business model, partnering with a flexi-job apprenticeship agency like us can be the ideal solution.
We recruit apprentices from diverse backgrounds, providing expert training in technical and commercial skills. Our flexible contract terms allow for scalable resources on short notice, perfect for short-term skills requirements or one-off projects.
Apprentices have access to our extensive network of training and wellbeing materials while on client sites, empowering them to upskill and contribute significant value to your teams
In this article, we explore Flexi-job apprenticeships, their benefits, and how your business can engage with this innovative model.
⚖️ FDM experts discuss the digital skills gap in parliament
Speaking at Parliament in March this year, a panel of industry leaders discussed the role education has on equipping our younger generations with the correct technology skills. FDM representative, Kate Hawthorn, Director of Talent attended earlier this year and spoke around the importance of data in tackling the digital skills crisis.
“Our staff experience is driven by millions of data points and that’s been one of the biggest developments in the past three years, that’s been an enormous step forward for us.”
Jonathan Young, Chief Information Officer at FDM attended the Digital Skills Summit at the Houses of Parliament in June this year to speak on the role that diversity plays in the UK’s talent pipeline.
“Many people do not realise what they can actually bring to the tech field. Some skills need highlighting to encourage candidates more to realise what potential they can offer to diversify and drive efficiencies.”
Patrick Wake, Group Director of Information Security, FDM along with key figures from the UK’s cyber industry gathered in the Houses of Parliament last week to discuss the challenges posed by cyber threats and the rise of AI to UK national security and the economy. The discussion also explored how best to manage the growing role AI is playing in the digital economy, the steps that need to be taken to protect critical national infrastructure and create a more diverse cyber workforce.
“Cyber security requires senior experienced talent but they’re a scarce and expensive resource. At FDM we recognise the paramount importance of laying a strong foundation. That’s why we train entry-level talent in the fundamental elements of technology as well as cyber security, from security operations to identity access management and device governance. The emergence of AI introduces a new dimension of risk. However, the fundamentals should not be forgotten. it is imperative to invest in hiring and upskilling to ensure a robust team equipped with the right skills.”
🎓 ConGRADulations to our apprentices!
Explore the remarkable stories of Sehrish Mustafa, Jack Baker, Dylan Bruton, and Matthew Tankard—four FDM apprentices who recently graduated from The University of Sheffield, in Digital and Technology Solutions through our three-year apprenticeship programme.
Jack Baker, Matthew Tankard, Dylan Bruton, and Sehrish Mustafa have now progressed into permanent roles at FDM within our Salesforce and IT support teams.
"The transition process was straightforward. Being an apprentice meant hands on work from day one – therefore once I became permanent, I knew what work to expect as I had been doing it for over three years now. I believe it prepared me for the industry better than any other route I could have taken." - Dylan Bruton
Our apprenticeship programme, tailored for school and college leavers, focuses on providing practical skills and work experience alongside university studies. It is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of tech talent, connecting them with leading businesses and fostering an inclusive workplace.
Following our successful application to the Government’s flexi-register, we're proud to offer our apprentices the opportunity to further expand their skills and knowledge while working with our clients, all while pursuing a BSc in Digital and Technology Solutions.
Connect with FDM to find your perfect candidate and contribute to a more inclusive and equitable future here.
Our Top Highlights
🎶 Our take on Spotify Wrapped, FDM edition!
We're reflecting on a year filled with highlights and the incredible people who made it all possible. Here's to our amazing team and the exciting times ahead in the coming year!
View here.
Watch here.
Our Year In Photos
📸 Our 2023 in just 30 seconds!
This year was a testament to the incredible achievements of our outstanding people. FDM wouldn't be what it is without their dedication and excellence. Here's to a year filled with remarkable milestones and a team that continues to define our success!
Click the video below!
Our Top Predictions
💼 Top trends in the workplace for 2024
With a colossal shift in the way we work, the past half decade has seen not only a change in all our lives, but the expectations we all have when it comes to our jobs. As new technology is built, younger generations join the work force and work-life high on people’s priority lists companies must keep up with these demands to attract new talent and retain existing staff. This is why we have explored workplace trends for 2024, offering expert advice on how we think businesses can prepare for these.
🔗 You Might Also Be Interested In:
The second cohort of the KPMG Technology Traineeship Pathway in collaboration with FDM, presented their tech career stories to KPMG's senior stakeholders and partners as well as FDM CEO Roderick Flavell and COO Sheila Flavell CBE.
👉 Next month’s edition
In next month's edition of fast4ward in tech, we will be looking at workplace trends for 2023 and the debate as to whether remote working is a thing of the past, based on our latest research into GenZ and their working patterns.
✉️ Interested to learn more about our services?
Fill out this form to register your interest and book a call.
Global services executive eager to leverage his experience and develop talent
1yGreat "Year in view" from a unique company! #fdmcareers