Tech talent exchange reshapes recruitment

A new tech initiative is helping to reshape how companies efficiently access and share skilled talent.

Digital Capability Exchange UK, a not-for-profit platform, has been launched by three leading technology firms – Spyrosoft, Leighton and Opencast – to offer a smarter, more flexible approach to sourcing tech professionals. 

After a successful pilot phase, the exchange now includes nine additional member organisations, aiming to help businesses across the UK scale their tech workforce efficiently.

Traditionally, tech consultancies must forecast project needs in advance, often leading to costly over-hiring or delays due to under-resourcing. 

The Digital Capability Exchange provides a trusted network where members can share and source talent for confirmed projects, optimising workforce deployment without lengthy recruitment cycles.

This collaborative model sits alongside traditional hiring methods, which bosses say will allow firms to better manage talent flow, reduce cost, and create more project opportunities for their staff.

Andrew Radcliffe, chief executive at Spyrosoft, said: “From our vantage point at Spyrosoft, we've seen first-hand the challenge facing every ambitious technology consultancy company: how do you consistently align exceptional talent with the precise demands of projects, exactly when they're needed? 

“And how do you ensure that your most important resource, people, are motivated and engaged in meaningful work? 

“We established Digital Capability Exchange UK, a not-for-profit talent pooling ecosystem, to address this fundamental issue.

“Importantly, for our teams of brilliant engineers and specialists within the member companies, it eliminates the frustrating experience of ‘sitting on the bench’ between projects. 

“Instead, they gain invaluable exposure and inspiration by contributing to diverse new challenges, keeping engaged and their skills sharp.”

Tom Lawson, chief executive of Newcastle-based Opencast, added: "Forecasting and allocating the people we need to work on our client projects is a complex and often challenging task. 

“At Opencast, we work for a range of clients across government, healthcare and purpose-driven businesses and we need to be flexible and able to respond to changes in client demand. 

“It's vital that we get our people numbers right and remain able to respond to new incoming demand from existing and new clients.

“Recognising that this is an industry-wide challenge, we are delighted to launch Digital Capability Exchange UK. 

“We hope this new not-for-profit initiative will help not just Opencast, but all the partners involved – as well as benefiting our own people, who want to be involved in delivering new and interesting work.”

Currently open to a limited number of early members, the exchange plans a phased roll-out later this year to meet growing interest from UK tech leaders. 

James Bunting, chief executive of Leighton, which recently switched its headquarters to Cubo Newcastle, added: “Digital Capability Exchange UK tackles a challenge every growing software development and technology consultancy company recognises – matching brilliant people to the right work at the right time. 

“As a member of the exchange, growing companies can meet client demands with confidence, knowing exceptional expertise is always on hand from other member companies.

“By creating a flexible, truly scalable, pool of top-tier talent across our member ecosystem we can smooth out the peaks and troughs of project demand, optimise utilisation and lower costs.”

Businesses keen to explore this new approach to talent resourcing can register their interest at dcxuk.org.

To find out more about Tom, the growth of Opencast and the pressure of managing his eight-year-olddaughter’s football team, read his recent interview with our sister publication, N, here.

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