IBM Creates 300 IT Jobs In England After Being Accused Of Laying Off 110,000 Workers

IBM is creating up to 300 new IT jobs in Leicester, England, with the launch of a services centre in the city.

The new IT roles will be created over the next three years for the ‘next generation’ of workers, enabling IBM to extend its delivery of technology services to UK-based IBM clients.

The 110,000 rumour

The announcement comes just days after Forbes accused the tech firm of planning to lay off 110,000 works – something IBM has strongly denied. In a statement, the company retorted: “IBM has already announced the company has just taken a $600m (£398m) charge for workforce rebalancing. This equates to several thousand people, a small fraction of what’s been reported.”

The newly established IBM Services Centre: Leicester, a wholly owned subsidiary of IBM, aims to provide UK-based IBM clients with high value application development and maintenance, test and systems management services that address the increasing demand for flexible software capability. These services will help UK based businesses harness the benefits of Cloud, Big Data Analytics, Mobile, Social and Security technologies.

The IBM Services Centre: Leicester will create new IT roles for graduates and experienced professionals who have technical backgrounds or who show an aptitude for IT, and want to build skills for the future. The centre will also offer internships and apprenticeships to harness the best talent from across the local region.

It is expected to offer IBM’s UK clients’ locally-based skills and technical expertise to drive innovation and adoption of new technology, and provide geographic proximity while working in tandem with IBM’s globally integrated capability network. Working closely with Leicester City Council and the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership it is anticipated that the centre’s development will help stimulate economic activity in the region.

Leicester’s City Mayor, Sir Peter Soulsby, said: “This is excellent news and a significant achievement for the city council in terms of our economic regeneration of the city. We have worked very closely with IBM, and I am delighted that they have now chosen Leicester for their UK base. We welcome them to our city, along with the opportunities they bring for our graduates and young people to gain the vital technology skills that businesses need in today’s competitive market. This move reinforces that Leicester can not only meet the location needs of major businesses, but that it is also a great place to study and work, and to build an exciting future.”

The IBM Services Centre: Leicester joins IBM’s globally integrated capability network which delivers deep technical and industry expertise to a wide range of public and private sector clients in Europe and around the world. It is the latest in a series of job-creating investments IBM has made in recent years in technology, science and innovation.

David Stokes, Chief Executive, IBM UK and Ireland, said: “This investment in job creation aims to inspire the next-generation workforce from local technical colleges and universities who will deliver the technology skills needed to drive business innovation in the UK. The new centre will help to position Leicester as a hub for global businesses and reflects IBM’s long-standing commitment to developing skills and providing high-value technology services to business across the UK.”

In collaboration with regional universities and educational institutions the recruitment for the new positions will start immediately. Applications can be made directly to the recruitment team by sending your CV to recruitment-isc@uk.ibm.com.

The centre will receive additional support from the Regional Growth Fund through the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership.

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