Work environment key to fixing skills shortage

Creating the right work environment is central to overcoming the current ICT skills shortage according to local enterprise ISV TechnologyOne.

In the last year, the company has managed to hire over 100 staff and intends to recruit an additional 90 for R&D and customer services roles in the year ahead.

TechOne chairman Adrian Di Marco said the key to attracting, and retaining, such staff was to develop a work environment that was cognisant of employees' varying needs.

“We provide breakfast for all of the staff and do regular team building exercises. That shows that people are recognised and valued,” he said.

The company’s position as a challenger to multinational enterprise software providers like Oracle and SAP was also important in creating a workplace environment which attracted the right employees, Di Marco said.

“People want to be challenged and work in an environment which competes against the biggest and the best,” he said. “Those sorts of people attract similar people who will rise to the challenge.”

Recruiting at the graduate level, then training and developing staff for internal promotion was also vital in overcoming the skills-drought, Di Marco said.

“Graduates have no baggage and are keen to learn and start. In two to three years they are valuable assets which you can promote,” he said.

The consideration of employee lifestyle was also a factor worth considering, Di Marco said.

Mindful of the cheaper cost of living and better climate, TechnologyOne had deliberately decided to base its new R&D facilities in Brisbane, he said.

“Being a fast-growth company is also important as it gives good people new challenges and opportunities to move up. If you plateau out then its harder to keep them,” he said.

The comments come as Queensland’s Beattie Government hosts a National ICT Skills Summit on how to address the skills shortage in the ICT industry.

The summit, held today and tomorrow provides workshops, discussion groups, forums and expert presentations to examine promote the attractiveness of ICT as a career choice.

TechnologyOne recorded half year revenues to December of $31.7 million, up 31 percent. Half year profits before tax were $7.2 million, up 52 percent.