The IT sector is rapidly changing and remarkably diverse. The vast majority of businesses in the UK offer employment for IT professionals or contract IT services on a regular basis, and more than 1.5 million people are employed in sector. It is estimated that IT contributes more than £71 billion in revenue to the economy each year. Positions in the industry can range from creative roles to highly technical positions, and sometimes even involve work with a business administration emphasis. At most companies, the employment environment is informal and non-competitive. Some jobs do, however, require overtime or irregular hours.
While employment opportunities exist all throughout the UK, nearly 50% of all jobs in IT are based in London and the South East. Salaries are also quite high in the field, and range from about £23,000 to upwards of £80,000. The overall average income is about £40K, but workers in London are especially well paid and average close to £60K annually. Some of the jobs most frequently available through recruitment agencies involve networking, QA, SAP, and SQL.
To gain entry to the field, many professionals start by attaining an IT degree, an HND, or a BTEC qualification. A limited number of apprenticeship positions are also available. The largest employers are IBM, Microsoft, Google, and BT.