Contractors flock to RFID 'gold rush'

IT professionals are flocking to a four-day course in radio frequency identification technology (RFID) that is earning contractors in excess of £55 an hour, industry trainers have revealed.

Launched by The Training Camp in January, the fast-track course is being inundated by both permanent and contract IT staff hoping to take advantage of the RFID ‘gold rush.’

Participants need no prior experience, as the course teaches contractors how to install, configure and manage electronic tags, while teaching vital “skills and knowledge to work in an RFID using environment.”

This includes training contractors so they master how to configure RFID hardware and software, equipping then with a basic knowledge of interrogation zone basics, testing, design selection and troubleshooting.

A spokesperson for the Training Camp told Contractor UK contractors holding its CompTIA RFID certification are commanding hourly rates of £55 upwards.

“Our course can be completed in four days, meaning experienced contractors can quickly gain the latest skills.

“To date, there has been massive demand from permanent and freelance IT workers…from both new and experienced candidates seeking to take advantage of the RFID gold rush,” the spokesperson said.

Yesterday, one group supporting the accelerated course, the Computing Technology Industry Association, said a growing number of large companies believe RFID deployment is suffering at the hands of a skills shortage.

Eight out of ten organisations responding to the Association said a lack of individuals skilled in RFID will impact adoption, while 75 per cent simply feel there is an absence of suitably skilled practitioners.

That figure is down slightly from a similar survey conducted in 2005, when 80 percent of respondents said there was a shortage of RFID talent.

“RFID is a complex and still evolving technology, and expertise is absolutely required for its usage to be a success,” said David Sommer, vice president at CompTIA.

“The skill sets and ‘need-to-knows’ related to RFID are many and varied. Clearly there is work to be done in our industry in terms of RFID education, training and professional certification.”

For contractors already experienced in RFID, the Association will reveal a certification course on March 28, for those with 6-24 months of experience in RFID or related technologies.

Among the skills the certification exam will test are installation, configuration and maintenance of RFID hardware and device software; site surveys and site analysis; and tag selection, placement and testing.

Back in the UK, leading recruitment agents said telcos, retail and logistics clients currently offer the most opportunities for contractors skilled in RFID.

Meanwhile, The Training Camp said its most popular course among contractors and freelance consultants continues to be IT Infrastructure Library course, since the programme launched last year.

The internationally recognised course aims at arming IT professionals with the skills and knowledge of best practice IT service management.

“Since its introduction, ITIL has become widely used in both the public and private sectors,” a spokesperson said.

“[It] is now the UK's de facto standard for project management.”