HS2 to drive digital and tech jobs boom in Midlands

With the news that the HS2 will go ahead, jobs in digital and tech sectors will surely grow in the Midlands.

We spoke to Dan Hoff-Rodrigues, the founder of a Community-focused Technology and Digital recruitment business {CX}² Talent Solutions. Dan and his firm are committed to inspiring the next-generation of tech talent within the Birmingham and West Midlands region, and here we catch up with him to hear his thoughts about tech job opportunites in our region.

Q. Will HS2 make a difference to the tech industry in the Midlands?

A. London to Birmingham is phase 1. There are two stations for Birmingham- interchange (by the airport) and Curzon street (east side)  – the economic benefits on the ground will be felt mostly around the stations with significant office and mixed use development already happening, ahead of expected opening in 2026. This development will bring direct benefits in terms of jobs and indirect through spend on services/contracts, plus potential agglomeration benefits of new business hubs.

Industry will benefit from increased access to labour market, high specialist skills, through improved connectivity to London. It will ber only 45mins from London to the interchange. We expect more highly skilled professionals to move to the Midlands, and Birmingham and the West Midlands will become the go place for people relocating from London.

Additionally, foreign inward investment has already increased in West Midlands since HS2 commitment.

Q. How big is the tech sector in the Midlands? 

A. The Midlands has always been a sleeping giant. The tech scene is growing and developing in to an incredible beast that is doing things right and attracting some great businesses.

Q. What are the main job opportunities – sector type (eg fintech, IoT etc) or role type (dev, testing etc)?

The software development market continues to flourish and the amount of roles available out there currently are starting to really increase. The amount of businesses looking to set up a DevOps environment in order to automate processes will continue to make this a hot tech. Industry wise, Fintech is seeing investment, especially since Brexit and businesses taking head offices out of London.

Q. How is the Midlands tech jobs scene different from the London scene?

A. I think it is absolutely fundamental that as a city, we grow on our own terms. I continually hear how thriving the London tech scene is, however no other city in the UK is like London and therefore it is so important we concentrate on making the Midlands region its own success story in its own right.

Q. What sort of salaries are we looking at in the Midlands?

A. The salary ranges are fairly wide. The more in-demand development technologies are naturally higher. In some cases businesses are throwing incredible amounts of money in order to attract new talent whilst also retaining existing talent.

Dan onsite with students from Solihull college who are on a programme with a company called Digital Innov8ors

Q. Tell us more about {CX}² Talent Solutions – what is your firm trying to do?

A. We partner with tech and software focused businesses, we interpret their culture in order to hire suitable talent whilst acting as an extension of their marketing team by marketing their brand. The community focus is all about bringing creative and passionate minds within the tech-ecosystem together in order to work collaboratively to get more young people and career changers into the tech scene in Birmingham and the West Midlands.

Q. What made you start your business?

A. We have two young children who are 18 months and 3 years old. They are already becoming consumers of tech and therefore it is important to inspire and encourage in the RIGHT way for them to be interested in it. A lot of businesses and people talk about the digital skills gap but solutions seem to be all around funding and discussions coming from the top down. I feel we need to inspire young people from the bottom up and early on in their careers.

Want to share yoiur thoughts on the Midlands tech scene then pleae get in touch at news@techsparx.co.uk.