Tackling Cambridge’s skills gap and hiring risks

February 24, 2025

In an era of rapid technological change and evolving workforce needs, businesses across Cambridge are facing a growing challenge: the shortage of local talent in critical areas such as Data Science, Software Development, AI-driven Digital Marketing, and Leadership. To address these challenges and help businesses thrive, HyperionDev is partnering with the Cambridge & Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA), to train local residents with the skills most in-demand by employers in the region.

Skills shortages are increasingly becoming a barrier to growth. In the first half of 2024 alone, Cambridge-based tech firms secured a record-breaking $1.6 billion in funding, demonstrating the region’s emerging investment landscape. The digital sector contributes nearly 9% of the region’s revenue and over 8% of its employment.

The Skills Shortage and Employment Law Risks

According to a report from the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES), nearly 40% of businesses in the UK are facing challenges in filling technical roles, with data science and software development among the hardest to recruit for. In fact, the Cambridge & Peterborough Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has highlighted a 15% gap in tech talent within the region, one of the highest in the country. This gap is especially pressing for businesses looking to scale and remain competitive.

In addition, upcoming changes in employment law are set to increase the risks associated with hiring. With IR35 reforms affecting contractors and minimum wage adjustments being phased in across the UK, businesses face the dual challenge of finding skilled talent while ensuring compliance with increasingly complex employment regulations.

For businesses, this combination can create significant uncertainty. Our partnership with CPCA aims to mitigate these risks by providing a pathway for local companies to hire well-trained, job-ready talent with minimal hiring risk.

Training and Deployment: A Solution to Mitigate Hiring Risks

At HyperionDev, we recognise that businesses need talent that is ready to perform from day one. Our 12-week Hire-Train-Deploy programme is designed to allow businesses to assess candidates on the job, reducing the risks associated with hiring new staff. Companies can observe new hires in action, ensuring they’re the right fit for the role before making a full-time commitment.

This model helps mitigate hiring risks and create pathways into tech employment, for talent that is trained to meet the specific needs of a business. By working closely with our employer partners, we provide additional bespoke upskilling aligned with their technologies and tools.

A Long-Term Investment in Local Talent

Building a strong talent pipeline starts with backing local people. Businesses hiring and upskilling within their local community, strengthens the local economy and builds teams that are genuinely invested in long-term success.

With CPCA’s commitment to developing homegrown talent and our Hire-Train-Deploy model giving businesses a low-risk way to bring in and shape new talent, companies in Cambridge and Peterborough have a real opportunity to get ahead of skills shortages.