Contract wins boost firm’s software development team

Claritas Solutions, an IT services and solutions company based in Wetherby, has seen considerable growth to its development team, with six new team members since February this year.

More contracts from existing clients, new business acquisitions, as well as additional internal solution projects, have led to an increase in demand for software developers at the firm.

Claritas, which now employs over 50 members of staff, says it is committed to creating opportunities for people wanting to begin a career in IT and to learn from the ground up.

Several of the new posts have been filled by people with limited or no IT.

The shortage of software developers has been widely publicised over recent years.

Finding developers with the right skills has been a challenge, so managing director, Glenn Scaife, took the decision to expand recruitment to include novices in the field.

He said: “As well as recruiting several highly experienced software developers to the team, we have also looked ‘outside the box’ and reached out to school leavers, graduates and people wanting a change of career.

“The focus was on recruiting highly capable individuals to complement our existing team of experienced software developers, who above all have a passion for software development and the aptitude to make it happen.

“I have been impressed by how quickly the new members of staff are grasping these new skills, and they are already, after just several weeks on the job, starting to turn out high quality code.”

The new recruits are undertaking a rigorous training programme to teach them all the skills and programmes required to develop software for Claritas and are being mentored by senior members of staff.

Joining the team at the beginning of March was junior developer Rich Heneachon.

Graduating with a degree in Interactive Media Design, Heneachon had no IT work experience upon starting at Claritas.

His degree covered the basics of web development and he self-studied different development languages, skills which have proven useful in his new role.

Heneachon said: “I am grateful for the opportunity to work at Claritas as a junior developer, as it has given me the chance to start my career in the world of development.

“Working on projects by myself and as part of a great team has helped me develop my skills and learn new ones. I look forward to new challenges and developing my skills even further.”