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UK Cloud innovation: Who and what is leading the charge on digital transformation?

The UK is packed full of IT specialists leading the way in digital transformation through cloud technology. Following a surge in businesses looking for more innovative solutions, automated services and better customer services, predictions indicate that the global cloud market will rise at a rate of 18% by 2023.

With businesses in the United Kingdom adopting cloud technologies at a significantly higher rate than the rest of Europe, the spotlight is now on UK cloud vendors to showcase their ground-breaking solutions.

UK Cloud Awards celebrate cloud innovation

The UK Cloud Awards 2019 celebrates this growing IT talent this month, highlighting the leaders in cloud innovation.

Celebrating its sixth year, the awards highlights the diversity, innovation, excellence, customer experience and digital transformation driven by the cloud industry.

After receiving a record number of entries for this year’s awards, the shortlist has been whittled down from the hundreds to focus on the very best in cloud creativity and leadership.

View all the nominees here.

Speaking of the awards, Clive Spanswick, ScienceLogic's vice president of EMEA, said: "The UK cloud industry is leading the charge on digital transformation, helping organisations transform their businesses with innovative cloud-based services.”

Cloud migration tackles business boundaries

Dave Strong, Digital Director of Cloud transformarion at Sopra Steria

We spoke to Dave Strong, ‘Cloud Visionary’ nominee and Digital Director of Cloud Transformation at Sopra Steria, who shared his excitement with First Recruitment Group over the business possibilities of cloud migration.

He said, “Cloud technology is constantly evolving and as Cloud Native development and Containerisation becomes the norm, we can tackle the really hard legacy core applications businesses are nervous to currently migrate to the cloud.

“It is these highly critical applications that will make a difference and make those innovative boundary-pushing business outcomes possible. The ones that truly change lives.”

Cloud computing trends in 2019

So what are the cloud computing trends that IT Infrastructure professionals could be considering in 2019?

1. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is becoming more hybrid cloud friendly with an increase in deployment giving better alignment with Azure. Indications are that Hybrid Cloud recruitment will grow in popularity.

2. Google Cloud aims to build trust by investing in customer success and sales, aiming to take further market share from AWS and Microsoft.

3. Service mesh is set to gain popularity after its arrival in 2018.

4. Application platforms developers benefitting from the low cost and scalability of the cloud.

5. Some business are close to full serverless deployment.

6. Businesses could gain short term benefits from enterprise giants open source communities.

Is 2019 the Year of Hybrid Cloud?

With so many cloud solutions now available for businesses, cloud providers are now focussed on the possibilities of hybrid solutions to meet the demands of their customers.

Talking about his predictions for the year ahead Jez Back, Head Judge at the UK Cloud Awards, said:

“Many technology organisations are accepting the Hybrid Cloud reality for businesses, irrespective of their philosophy about it. AWS Outposts is a good market indicator of this.”

After years of persuading customers to go for a cloud-first approach, Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced the release of ‘Outposts’ last November, a hybrid cloud solution that allows customers to move to the cloud but keep certain applications on premise for the time being.

Despite coming as a surprise to many within the industry, the release of Outposts brought AWS into better alignment with Azure - which has long been hybrid-friendly through Azure Stack - signalling a shift in industry attitudes towards cloud solutions.

Cloud Recruitment Positions on the Rise

First Recruitment Group’s IT Recruitment Manager, Kevin Riley, added, “Personally I find the rise of Hybrid Cloud solutions particularly interesting as it shows many cloud providers are switching to a more customer-driven approach. Cloud technology is continuing to grow globally, with forward-thinking businesses looking to automate and improve customer services to stay ahead of their competitors.

“Talking to my clients there is an increasing need for Cloud professionals, especially for those specialising in hybrid cloud and cloud operations (CloudOps). These professionals are often essential in helping drive key business objectives as innovation becomes crucial to standing out in often highly competitive markets.”

Testimonials

“We have required a number of Quality Assurance/Quality Control candidates within the Nuclear Industry. Since early 2016 First Recruitment Group have provided a number of QA/QC professionals in locations across the UK.

“We have been very pleased with both the quality of supply and the customer service demonstrated and will continue to use their professional services in the future.”

Bureau Veritas

“I have worked with First Recruitment Group as my partner of choice across a number of large and challenging Oil & Gas projects internationally over recent years.

“First are a high performing business who are built on credibility, honesty, expertise.

“As we push the frontiers of projects and move in to more and more challenging and locations, First will continue to be my partner of choice to help us deliver our projects with confidence.”

TechnipFMC

"I have had the pleasure of working with First Recruitment Group over recent years and we have formed a great working relationship. Their understanding of our exacting requirements is outstanding.

"The First team are highly experienced and knowledgeable across the recruitment spectrum and operate in the manner you would expect of a professional outfit of their stature. Their attention to detail and approach is faultless and their commitment and drive has helped our business with unique, complex and difficult recruitment requirements.

"Sarah, our Account Manager, is an incisive thinker as well as hardworking, diligent and reliable and has an extremely helpful and flexible approach to her work. This reflects in her team and with their ability to communicate at all levels in an honest and trusted consultative manner and gives us great faith in their ability to identify candidates who can help us to drive forward and achieve our business goals.

"I have no hesitation in recommending First as a recruitment partner and feel they would be worthy of selection for any engineering or manufacturing business looking for an intelligent and innovative solution."

Nuvia

“There is nothing negative about the service that we’ve received from First. Without fail they have produced positive feedback. The fact that they have placed a diverse range of skills from PA's to Engineers, just goes to show that they have the core skills, intelligence, and initiative that make them great recruiters, and preferred partners.”

Multi-Sector Client

"It’s great to work with a recruitment agency we trust. The team at First Recruitment Group are friendly and straight talking and they continue to provide an excellent service. We’re proud to still be working with them after 20 years."

Simon Carves Engineering Ltd

Read all Testimonials

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