Listings - Information Technology

Information Technology

So, what's it all about?

Let's imagine two writers working on a guide to the IT industry, one in 1988 and one in 2008. Writer 88 goes to the library, and finds a selection of books about IT, which the librarian locates by flicking through a big box of index cards. Once Writer 88 has done her research, she types up her piece on her state-of-the-art word processor, with its three-line, two-colour display. She prints it out and, not having one of these newfangled fax machines, puts it in an envelope and posts it off to the editor, to arrive two days later.

Writer 08 sits in bed with his laptop. Checks his email. Downloads some music from iTunes. Watches video of dog skateboarding on YouTube. Finally, ten minutes before deadline, he types "IT industry" into Wikipedia, opens a Word document, presses copy and paste, and emails it straight to the editor's inbox.

Well, OK, maybe that's not exactly how it happens. But there's no doubting the fact that IT (which pretty much means anything to do with computers) has transformed our working lives more than anything since... well, the wheel, probably.

IT literacy is the new reading, writing and arithmetic. So it's no surprise to learn that people with IT skills are in high demand. And it's not just the Microsofts and Apples of this world that need employees: there are thousands of small companies designing anything from accounting systems for local businesses to online communities for doll's house enthusiasts.

This sector also covers telecommunications, as the boundary between IT and other forms of electronic communication is blurring all the time. Believe it or not, only a few years ago people used their mobile phones only to talk to each other. Now, most of them are also sophisticated computers, media players and video cameras.

The IT industry moves incredibly quickly, and revolutionary, world-changing ideas come thick and fast. Take the case of two twenty-something students called Larry Page and Sergey Brin. In the late 90s, they came up with a new structure for a search engine. Less than ten years later, people around the world were using it 30,000 times per second, their company was valued at over £12 billion and its name had entered the language: Google.

What qualities do I need?

have good IT skills (alright, you guessed that one, didn't you?)
enjoy solving problems
have good communication skills
be able to explain complex procedures in simple language
be patient and methodical
be interested in new ideas
think analytically and creatively
be a good listener
pick up new skills and concepts quickly

Vital Statistics

Hours: Most jobs have a typical 40-hour working week, though working patterns are becoming more flexible - thanks largely to advances in IT. Some roles involve being on call out of hours.

Environment: The majority of jobs are office based. If you're not keen on being stuck inside, this probably isn't the sector for you.

Location: The UK's main technology centres are the M4 Corridor between London and Reading, "Silicon Fen" around Cambridge and "Silicon Glen" in Scotland's central belt, but IT skills are needed everywhere from Alaska to Zanzibar.

Apprenticeships in this sector

These are the Apprenticeships currently available in this sector. For more information and for details of the Apprenticeship framework, contact the Sector Skills Council listed after each.