I have no issue with employing foreign IT staff if this is really expedient (We should welcome overseas IT staff, 1 March).
But what irritates me is the reluctance to spend money on training existing skilled workers and the development IT, which is still perceived as a money-hungry part of their business.
Why not invest in quality IT systems, in-house developed and with all the benefits of having a specialist staff, dedicated to the company – people who will still be there to maintain and enhance the systems in years to come? In short, staff with the experience to support the most important aspect of any company's business.
Remember – if your system crashes, your company will be dead within a week, if you cannot get it back. If you never spent another penny on marketing and advertising, you would still be in business, provided your company product is a good one.
There are many who would provide quality IT service given half a chance. Unfortunately, like other industry sectors, fashionable views prevail. I fear that fashion-slavishness will eventually kill British business.
Paul Kemp