Data & Analytics: Manchester and the North West | Harnham Recruitment post

Since 2018, Harnham has doubled in size and since the start of 2021 – just after the second lockdown eased – we’ve been incredibly busy. The demand for our services increased ten-fold and we needed to find ways to answer this effectively and efficiently. Not long after the start of the new year, we decided to develop a team that would focus primarily on Manchester and the North West of the UK. Despite the squeeze of the pandemic that affected our industry, along with pretty much the rest of the world, the past eight months or so have been the best on record for us, with the North standing out as a region of excellence.  And we’re confident this trend is here to stay. The industry is projected to grow at a rate of 25 per cent over the course of the next decade, with many companies looking to pursue digital transformation and rely on data-driven capabilities more than ever. In 2019 Manchester became the fastest growing tech hub in Europe, and it has not stopped growing. Home to several award-winning start-ups and an incredible pool of tech professionals, Manchester and the North West region has a bright future ahead of it.Accessible talent in turbulent times One positive we have taken from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic across the industry, but especially to our team and clients at Harnham North, is the implementation of hybrid working models and a big shift in companies’ policies. Traditionally, most companies within data required their employees to come into the office for four to five days a week, but after being forced into home working for 18 months, it became clear that this was a help rather than a hindrance both to employees and employers.By allowing employees to come in once or twice a week, sometimes even less, the industry has found that talent has become increasingly more accessible. The talent pool is much wider with geography proving to be less of a barrier, those who have caregiving roles are able to make employment work for them and not the other way around, and the number of disabled candidates within the pool has increased. With a more inclusive environment created through aspects such as flexible and remote working, we’re confident that the diversity and inclusion issues that the industry currently sees will begin to improve over the coming years. A thriving data hubWe see countless graduates leave university thinking that they must get a job in London to make it in Data & Analytics and begin a successful career. However, this overlooks the exciting opportunities outside of London, particularly in the North. Considering the fact that Manchester has had the second most tech jobs in the UK, graduate candidates are missing out. We want to change that. In September alone, 30 early-stage businesses are set to take part in a unique startup support programme, establishing the next generation of Manchester’s trailblazing tech firms, over £1 billion worth of new schemes were announced by the City Council over the past year and Manchester has become home to 43 per cent of the UK’s digital unicorns – a goldmine of opportunity, not just for graduates but for all Data & Analytics specialists. A change in pay Despite a strong stigma surrounding the disparity in pay between London and cities further North, COVID-19 has begun to close this gap. With the significant changes over the past 18 months, companies in London are less likely to be paying their employees at the same rate due to hybrid working models; there is only a 5-10 per cent salary disparity between the North and London.Our Manchester and North West team are incredible at matching the best talent with the best companies and partners with some of the industry’s most exciting data-driven organisations. We’re excited to be part of the incredible growth the region, and industry is experiencing and look forward to continuing to provide a crossroads for experienced talent and emerging companies with the Data & Analytics space. If you’re looking to build out a Data & Analytics team or are looking for your next opportunity, we can help. Take a look at our latest Digital analytics jobs in Manchester and the North West or get in touch with one of our expert consultants to find out more.