Member Article

Leeds showcased at London’s top digital job fair

Renowned Leeds graffiti artist Bretski will join Herd founder Amy De-Balsi and other representatives from the city this weekend to promote its attractions to an expected 3,000 attendees at London’s premier tech industry job fair, the Silicon Milk Roundabout.

Supported by Leeds City Council and Leeds BID, the team will have a dedicated space at the two-day event on Brick Lane. They will be making the case for skilled candidates to move North to work in the burgeoning Leeds digital and tech sector and improve their quality of life.

There are now more than 1,350 digital companies based in Leeds employing a total of over 10,000 people and these numbers are increasing all the time.

But such rapid growth has led to an upsurge in digital and tech vacancies in the city which local firms are understandably very keen to fill.

Ms De-Balsi, who organised the inaugural Leeds Digital Job at the First Direct Arena in February, said it was vital to be proactive in selling the many benefits of living and working in the city to graduates and experienced tech candidates from other parts of the country, as well as internationally.

“There are currently around 640 tech job vacancies in Leeds, an increase of 50 per cent in just six months,” Amy said.

“But illustrating what has catapulted Leeds ahead of other major digital cities such as Manchester and Bristol, the Leeds Digital Board has formulated a Digital Skills Action Plan with a series of actions to address the recruitment challenges we face.

“This includes sending a team to London to promote the career opportunities available in the Leeds digital sector, alongside the superb quality of life employees and new investors will enjoy by relocating here.

“With several thousand job seekers and more than 175 companies signed-up to attend on Saturday and Sunday, the Silicon Milk Roundabout is the ideal location for us to tell people why they should consider joining the Leeds digital and tech revolution.”

Amy will showcase the hundreds of tech vacancies currently on offer in Leeds through Herd, a specialist online jobs board.

She will be accompanied by a number of other Leeds representatives able to talk with authority about the city’s universities, housing options, nightlife, cultural attractions and regeneration plans.

And adding unique element to the Leeds Tech Zone, Bretski will be there to create pieces of street art themed on some of the city’s best known landmarks.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Barry White .