How skills-based hiring is helping solve the tech talent shortage

At our recent webinar, Are skills the new currency for tech talent?, we explored how a skills-first recruitment strategy can be a game-changer. The session featured insights from Lee Jacques, Head of Software Engineering at Leonardo, and Conor McDonald, a career-changer who retrained as a software engineer through the Greenbeam platform.

Together, they unpacked the real-world impact of skills-based hiring—from solving workforce shortages to opening up new opportunities for mid-career professionals seeking meaningful roles in tech. For those wanting to understand skills-based hiring in practice, their experiences offered a compelling case for shifting from CVs to capabilities.

Lee spoke about Leonardo’s need to expand its engineering teams without relying solely on traditional recruitment methods. Conor, who transitioned from the civil service into a role in software development, shared how highlighting transferable skills and demonstrating potential helped him break into a sector that might otherwise have been out of reach.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the discussion:

• "Software engineering isn’t just about writing code."
  Lee shared how shifting the focus beyond traditional coding experience has helped Leonardo build more well-rounded teams by valuing collaboration, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn.
• "It’s a journey… you need to buy into it."
  Lee spoke openly about overcoming traditional CV-focused thinking and investing in a collaborative, co-designed process that allows talent to grow into the role.
• Practical skill demos build confidence.
  Both Lee and Conor highlighted the value of the Capstone project as a way to apply learning in a real-world setting and demonstrate capability beyond a CV.
• Diversity of thought adds real value.
  Conor explained how bringing varied experiences from different industries has created a richer team dynamic, with fresh ideas and new ways of thinking.
• Custom training aligned to business need.
  It’s vital that training aligns with the skills needed in the business from day one. Co-designing the learning pathway with the employer ensures candidates are work-ready, with the exact skills required to contribute from day one.
• Skills-first hiring works.
  Leonardo’s approach to evaluating aptitude and traits over CVs has unlocked new, diverse talent.
• The power of potential.
  Aptitude testing and personality profiling give candidates the confidence to retrain and give hiring managers clarity on fit – even without previous experience.

Whether you're looking for the top skills for software developers, exploring the benefits of skills-based hiring, or researching the best skills assessment platforms, this session demonstrated that rethinking how we assess, and onboard talent is critical.

By embracing competency-based skills assessments and recognising potential over pedigree, organisations can tap into a broader, more diverse talent pool—particularly among mid-career professionals ready to pivot into in-demand roles.

Want to catch up on the session?

Skills-based hiring isn’t just a trend—it’s a solution.

It fills skill gaps, strengthens teams, and provides meaningful opportunities for those ready to reskill and contribute.

If you're curious how to adopt a skills-first recruitment strategy, we’d be happy to show you how.