New partnership to scale up digital talent in Welsh public sector

The Centre for Digital Public Services (CDPS) has entered a three-year partnership with Yolk Recruitment to help public sector organisations in Wales fill critical Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) roles. 

The strategic collaboration has a potential value of £15 million and is expected to play a key role in modernising public services in Wales, including local government, education and health.

By working with Cardiff-based Yolk Recruitment, which has a dedicated public sector team, CDPS is planning to increase the pool of talent and boost the number of digital skilled people delivering public services in the region.  As public sector organisations continue to face a digital skills shortage, the partnership with Yolk offers an opportunity to acquire the necessary capabilities. 

CDPS emphasised its focus on building a modern public service. That meant finding a company committed to meeting Net Zero goals by 2030, and that recognised the importance of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

Joint CEO of CDPS, Myra Hunt, said: “We're confident that by working together, we'll be able to develop a modern public sector in Wales that delivers services people can access in a way which suits their needs.”

The new partnership signals a shift among public sector organisations of the need to prioritise technology, digital, and data solutions. 

As a Wales-based company, Nici Jones, Director of Public Sector and Not-for-Profit at Yolk, said they have a particular insight into the challenges and skills shortages faced by recruiters in the region, especially in the digital sector.

"More public sector organisations have recognised that data and digital tools, and the professionals that wield them, are a priority for improving customer access to services. As a result, people with the digital and technology expertise are highly sought-after, and a large challenge within the public sector is enticing talent from the private sector," he said.