Skilled South African IT workers are hot property, says the UK-based Leapfrog Careers recruitment agency, which has crossed the seas to scout for local IT talent.
The company says London`s e-commerce industry is experiencing an acute shortage of skilled IT staff and it believes SA`s skilled IT workers will fit the bill.
Simon Kemp, director of Leapfrog Careers, says he will be in SA over June and July looking for suitable candidates, as he has been impressed with the quality of the many South Africans he has placed. "They have high skill sets and an excellent work ethic."
Kemp says he will be interviewing as many skilled South Africans as possible in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.
"We are especially looking for technical directors, developers, project managers, designers and database gurus with a minimum of one to two years commercial experience within the e-commerce/Internet sector."
Kemp explains that those with a valid work permit or British ancestry will find it easier to find the right position in London. He adds that the British government, in order to encourage more overseas employees to take jobs in the UK, recently reduced the time it takes to authorise visas.
The e-commerce boom and the emergence of dotcom start-ups looking to set-up and maintain Web sites has resulted in a demand that UK recruiters are struggling to supply, notes Kemp.
However, he cautions that the lifestyle is different to what South Africans are used to and says they should expect "an intense environment" and "high cost of living". Kemp adds that these aspects are counter-balanced by the city`s cultural diversity, people and atmosphere.
The agency says the skills in demand in the UK include Java, Visual Basic, C++, SQL and HTML.
Leapfrog Careers says it will help successful job applicants with accommodation in London and will put them in contact with other South Africans.
The agency notes that wages in London are on the increase and IT workers can expect to earn an annual package of between R150 000 to R500 000, depending on experience.
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