IT Contractors Set to Benefit From New HP Initiative and New ‘Big Data’ Projects

2012 could be a busy year for specialists in IT contracting if two new developments take off: a new initiative from IT giant Hewlett Packard and a switch to ‘big data’ projects among many large firms.

Hewlett Packard – the government’s biggest IT contractor – currently sub-contracts some its public sector work to 600 smaller IT firms, including individual contractors working through PAYE umbrella services or limited companies. It has just announced that it will increase this number during 2012 from 10% of its public sector operations to 15%, which should provide opportunities for an additional 150 small firms and IT contractors.

HP is ‘doing its bit’ to support the government’s efforts to assist smaller companies find new business, generating much-needed economic growth in the process. The firm’s UK Managing Director, Nick Wilson, said that, if necessary, the company would redirect spending from elsewhere in order to meet the target.

Meanwhile, accountancy firm Deloitte predicts that spending by large firms on ‘big data’ projects will increase this year to between £650 million and £1 billion. With companies still eager to keep permanent headcounts down, IT contractors could be amongst the biggest beneficiaries of this new investment.

Jolyon Barker, the global lead for technology, media and telecommunications at Deloitte, said “So-called 'big data' projects had a total industry revenue of only £65 million in 2009.However, 2012 will see 90% of Fortune 500 companies kick off a data-related initiative, which will boost the industry's revenue to between £650 million and £1 billion.”

Sources;

http://www.contractoruk.com/news/0010388hp_vows_share_smaller_it_contractors.html

http://www.brookson.co.uk/news/industry/2012/january/deloitte-2012-to-see-650m-of-big-data-projects/