State of the Market

[uk contractor]

They've had a headcount here & no contracts will be extended. Also shedding 1800 jobs. They're going to onshore more bods from Tech Mahindra to take up the shortfall. Usual tulip.

Sorry to hear that but its also inevitable. The race to the bottom will continue as long as they can get away it sadly as its an easy way to boost profit by reducing headcount costs.

[uk contractor]

I would have thought anyone who was going to offshore would have done it years ago but seemingly not.

There is a lot of uncertainty in business about spending any money, even for what seem like essential projects.

What happens is some new fresh out of the MBA program greatest ever business person (and close relative of the CEO!!) graduates & knowing way more than anyone else (despite having minimal actual business experience!) then proceeds to say to their superiors (to impress them no doubt!) they know an easy way to reduce a few % off the headcount costs!

I keep in touch with many ex-colleagues in financial services they all tell a similar story the race to cut costs is ongoing sometimes they even replace one low cost onshore or offshore option with another just to save a few %.

Until there are government level job protections (like they have in USA & Australia) introduced to protect high tax paying UK IT workers its going to keep happening sadly.

[BlasterBates]

You only have to look at why there is no funding is to look no further than foreign companies withdrawing their assets from the City. No assets, no funding.

It's as simple as that.

[uk contractor]

Lot of zombie companies around as well just doing enough to survive so naturally they are not looking to spend anything more than the absolute minimum.

[NeedTheSunshine]

You only have to look at why there is no funding is to look no further than foreign companies withdrawing their assets from the City. No assets, no funding.

It's as simple as that.

Absolutely agree with this

[pork commando]

A recruiter contacted me today, and he sounded desperate. That's good news. As if there was shortage of workforce on the market. Maybe the wind is changing.

[Bluenose]

A recruiter contacted me today, and he sounded desperate. That's good news. As if there was shortage of workforce on the market. Maybe the wind is changing.

Probably because he was trying to source someone for £350pd inside Ir35

[greenlake]

A recruiter contacted me today, and he sounded desperate. That's good news. As if there was shortage of workforce on the market. Maybe the wind is changing.

Probably because he was trying to source someone for £350pd inside Ir35

Nah, probably because he needs to make his quota of placements in order to get his quarterly bonus.

[rogerfederer]

Sorry, I should clarify - for my current Clientco it’s nothing to do with Brexit. YMMV for other clients.

You can't really know that. It's fair to guess that it's likely to do with uncertainty surrounding the economy if brexit goes titsup, as most of the cynics here currently expect - unsurprisingly.

Companies broadcast internal tulip ALL the time using propaganda to suggest the opposite of reality to ensure the permies don't get worried.
"tis best not to join permiethink, lest thee become one of them."
-NorthernLad, Contractor Bible [carved on stone], circa1698

[NickNick]

Just to add my 2p to all of this, it looks like I may have an unintentional gap between contracts ahead for the first time in 15 years of doing this. Unless I'm prepared to work in London that is.
So I'm going to go with yes, the market seems slow at the moment.