Luke Clarke

𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱? 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁. Too often, contractors arrive ready to work but are left to navigate the unknown. Clients who invest a little time upfront see faster ramp-up, better output, and stronger engagement — even in short-term roles. Here are 5 simple ways clients can set contractors up for success on their first day: 1. 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 – A missing laptop or security pass sends the wrong message, it implies they were a second thought, first impressions count, you hired them, be prepared for them. 2. 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 – Make sure contractors have access to the files / systems needed, too many times contractors start and can’t influence change due to lack of access. 3. 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗹𝘆 – A quick Teams/VC intro to the wider team goes a long way 4. 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟭 – Priorities, deliverables, and success markers = clarity + confidence. 5. 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 – A quick feedback loop after Week 1 ensures any needed adjustments are made quickly. Great onboarding isn’t just for permanent staff. The smoother the start, the quicker contractors can deliver real value. #interim #contractors #onboarding #recruitment #procurement Chris Castle MIRP CertRP Jayne Hughes Freddie Thompsett Hannah Barden

53

5 Comments

🖥️When to Use Low-Code vs Traditional Coding🖥️ You're not choosing sides. You're choosing tools. Think of LCNC and traditional code like these: 🛠️ Low-Code: Great for internal tools Workflow automation MVPs & quick prototypes Citizen-led initiatives with IT support 💻 Traditional Code: Complex integrations High-scale public apps Deep system-level development Custom logic that LCNC can't handle (yet) You don't have to pick one. The best IT pros know when to use each. #IT #Technology #Recruitment

35

After recently connecting with a Head of Sales struggling with recruitment, one of the first things he said was: “We’ve seen some good CVs… but none are landing.” Their cybersecurity company had been trying to hire a senior Presales Engineer for over four months. Every candidate made it halfway. None got over the line. Why? ❌ Sales wanted urgency and polish ❌ Product wanted a deep technical influence ❌ Candidates were being pitched two different versions of the same job, and walking away So we reset: ✅ I got both teams aligned around a single brief ✅ We repositioned the role to match what top talent wants ✅ Shortlisted within 7 days One of those candidates is now 3 months in: → Leading presales across the East Coast and TOLA → Strengthening the product roadmap → Unlocking deals the team had stalled on This wasn’t about volume. It was about clarity, strategy, and outcomes. If your shortlist isn’t converting, it’s not just the candidates. Let’s fix the brief and the disconnect behind it.

22

3 Comments

Enjoying my morning coffee date with Chat GPT this morning and came across a UK contract market update… 📈 One of the most popular UK staffing platforms has reported on contract hiring, suggesting a stronger than expected uptick in contract activity in September. The report notes that contract roles increased 10.4% year on year in September and month on month, contract roles increased 18%. A consideration is that employers are leaning more on contract / flexible talent strategies to manage risk… but positive signs ahead of Q4!

30

6 Comments

📣 One of the biggest challenges I often hear from TM1 specialists when discussing their cloud implementations is the complexity of building integrations for their systems. That’s why today’s webinar, the final session of Cubewise Innovation Week, showcasing the global launch of their Atmosphere product, was so exciting! So what did I learn?? ☁️ Atmosphere can easily pull and push data from a multi-cloud environment. Cloud solutions are still relatively new to many, and the challenge isn’t just about selecting the right solution, but also about how to integrate it. Currently, the meta is to develop custom solutions, but with Atmosphere, you get pre-built connectors that work straight out of the box – no custom coding needed! Atmosphere works with V11 and V12 PA, offering a fantastic interface via Cubewise ARC, however is also available outside of this. ❓ So, why not ODBC? Most modern cloud tools don’t support ODBC, and this is where Atmosphere truly stands out. It’s simple, straightforward, and seamless. 🧩 Atmosphere’s modular approach means it can be easily deployed on existing models. Plus, with its usage history tracking, you can monitor each process, ETL steps, time, and logs for any issues. An absolute game changer for the TM1 community - so a big shout out to James Downey, Marius Wirtz, Stephen Waterbury, Nicolás Bisurgi for todays presentation. I'd also like to say a massive thank you to the wider Cubewise team, as well as all the participants in this weeks webinar series! If you attended Innovation Week let me know your favourite moment!

27

One month back at OpusRS – here’s what I’m seeing in the JavaScript contract market. It’s been great to get stuck back in, and I’ve already noticed some clear trends across the UK JavaScript contract space. 🏢 Hybrid working is shifting. Fully remote roles are becoming less common, with more contracts now asking for 2–3 days a week in the office. Collaboration and team presence are making a comeback. 💬 Contractors who know how to add value and communicate clearly with clients are being consistently extended. It’s not just about technical ability—commercial awareness and soft skills are making a real difference. 📉 Rates have taken a hit compared to a few years ago, but demand is still strong for those who can hit the ground running. ⚙️ Next.js is gaining serious traction. While React remains dominant with 39.5% of developers using it, Next.js is quickly rising with 17.9% adoption—thanks to its performance benefits and built-in features like server-side rendering and static site generation If you're a contractor looking for your next move, or a business needing top JavaScript talent, I’d love to connect. #JavaScript #NextJS #ReactJS #Contracting #TechRecruitment #OpusRS

25

2 Comments

If you’re looking for a new role on LinkedIn here are two simple tips to increase your visibility: 1. Change your job title to what you actually do and what recruiters will actually search for - DevOps Engineer not Cloud Wrangling Wizard. 2. Put your CV (with contact details) on the featured section of your LinkedIn profile. Told you they were simple.

45

8 Comments

Navigating Your First 90 Days as Head of IT Architecture Stepping into a Head of IT Architecture role is both thrilling and demanding. Your success depends on how quickly you can build influence, understand the business, and set a clear direction. Here’s how to make an impact in your first three months. 🔹 Step 1: Establish Trust & Build Key Relationships Your role is more than just technology—it’s about collaboration. Without strong relationships, even the best strategies will struggle to take off. Where to focus: ✅ Meet your team—listen before leading. Understand their frustrations, strengths, and ideas. ✅ Engage with business leaders—position yourself as a problem-solver, not just a technologist. ✅ Secure early wins—demonstrate value quickly to gain credibility. 💡 Tip: Create a stakeholder map to identify key influencers and decision-makers. 🔹 Step 2: Get Under the Skin of the Business A great IT architecture strategy is not about technology alone—it’s about enabling business success. Your first tasks: ✅ Sit down with executives to understand the company’s strategic goals. ✅ Analyse past IT decisions—where have things worked (or gone wrong)? ✅ Identify gaps where IT could better support business growth. 💡 Tip: Use a SWOT analysis to highlight opportunities and risks. 🔹 Step 3: Assess the Current IT Landscape Before deciding where to go next, you need to know where you are. Key focus areas: ✅ Review existing systems, integrations, and technology stacks. ✅ Assess your team—do they have the right skills? Where are the gaps? ✅ Evaluate ongoing projects—are they aligned with business goals? 💡 Tip: Use frameworks like TOGAF or Zachman to structure your assessment. 🔹 Step 4: Lead with Vision & Influence Culture A successful IT leader doesn’t just design systems—they shape mindsets. How to approach this: ✅ Build a culture of collaboration between IT and business teams. ✅ Foster adaptability—architecture must evolve with the organisation. ✅ Support professional development—your team’s success is your success. 💡 Tip: Set clear objectives using the SMART methodology to keep everyone aligned. 🔹 Step 5: Define a Future-State IT Strategy With a deep understanding of the business and IT landscape, it’s time to set a course for the future. What to do next: ✅ Craft a clear vision for IT architecture that aligns with business objectives. ✅ Prioritise strategic initiatives—balance quick wins with long-term goals. ✅ Seek input from stakeholders to ensure buy-in and adoption. 💡 Tip: Use visuals—architecture roadmaps and diagrams help communicate complex ideas clearly. Final Thoughts Your first 90 days will set the tone for your leadership. Focus on people, strategy, and execution, and you’ll create an architecture function that truly drives business success. Have I forgotten something? 👇 #ITLeadership #EnterpriseArchitecture #TechnologyStrategy #DigitalTransformation

21

4 Comments

What's the biggest challenge businesses face with CRM, Marketing, Sales and Service today? 🤔 In this clip from our Tek Leadership series, I spoke with Darrel Pugh about the specific challenges when integrating a CRM system and how dataRebel helps decision makers assess current usage, performance and strategy using data. It’s not just about having Salesforce and a suite of top tier products... it’s about how they talk to each other. Without a connected ecosystem, data lives in silos, teams operate in the dark and the '360 degree customer view' remains just a tag line. Whether it’s marketing not knowing who they’re targeting, or service teams lacking the context they need to support customers, data quality and platform disconnects are where so many orgs trip up. It’s a yo-yo effect - One team’s CRM is gold, another’s marketing platform is chaos. Sound familiar? More to come with Darrel, as the TekSelect team had some really insightful discussions with him about the current landscape of CRM. Watch this space 😬 #CRM #thoughtleadership #insight #data #salesforce #implementation

20

4 Comments