Market Update: Tech & Change Hot Roles (w/c 23/03)

Apologies for the gap in reporting. Well Street took on a campaign of work last week which pulled focus away from the insights. The week commencing 23rd March saw a notable decline in hiring activity compared to the previous reporting period, with volumes falling back to more typical levels. Permanent roles remained the majority, though interim positions accounted for a meaningful proportion of the total. Public sector hiring was particularly prominent, with multiple senior appointments including several Director General positions at DSIT.

📊 Volume & Mix

• 57 roles total this week

• Permanent: ~39

• Interim: ~18

Channel: Agency roles accounted for approximately 60% of the total. Direct hires were concentrated in public sector (DSIT, UKRI, UKHSA, local authorities, councils), higher education (Middlesex University, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS), education (St Leonard's, Lumen Christi Catholic Multi Academy, Rivers CoFE Trust), charities (Teenage Cancer Trust, Choice Support), and corporate employers including aviation and BPO sectors.

Down from 77 roles in the previous reporting period (w/c 09/03).

💡 Key Trends This Week

• Public sector hiring was exceptionally strong, with three Director General roles at DSIT (Digital Foundations, Digital Transformation, Digital Product), Chief Programme Officer and Chief Development Officer (UKRI), Director of Strategy and System Change (NISTA/HM Treasury), Head of Portfolio (UKHSA), and multiple interim Director of Transformation and Director of IT roles across local authorities and councils.

• AI leadership remained prominent, with Director of AI, AI Director, Head of Technology AI & Data, and Data & AI Transformation Director positions appearing across insurance, technology, legal, and consumer sectors, continuing the trend from previous weeks.

• Interim transformation activity was notably concentrated in public sector and local government, with Interim Director of Transformation appearing multiple times across London boroughs, housing associations, and local authorities, alongside Interim Chief Transformation Officer roles.

• Chief-level appointments were frequent, including Chief Digital and Information Officer (Civil Aviation Authority), Chief Delivery Officer (Cambridge University Hospitals NHS), Chief Change Officer, and Chief Product & Technology Officer positions, indicating sustained demand for C-suite technology leadership.

• Head-level roles spanned diverse disciplines, with Head of Technology, Head of PMO, Head of Projects, Head of IT (appearing multiple times across education and public sector), Head of Enterprise Architecture, Head of Applications, Head of Digital Services, Head of Service Delivery, and Head of Change roles across sectors.

📅 Month-on-Month (rolling view)

• February 2026 (w/c 09/02): 65 roles; highest volumes since early January; CISO and security leadership prominent; higher education notably active; interim demand sustained.

• February 2026 (w/c 23/02): 71 roles; strong rebound post-half-term; Head-level roles dominant across disciplines; CIO appointments notably frequent; fractional and cyber security leadership prominent.

• March 2026 (w/c 09/03): 77 roles; substantial rebound; AI and data leadership dominant theme; utilities and infrastructure notably active; charities and third sector particularly visible; highest weekly total recorded.

• March 2026 (w/c 23/03): 57 roles; volumes down from peak; public sector exceptionally strong with multiple Director General appointments; AI leadership sustained; interim transformation concentrated in local government.