As businesses strive to keep up with the pace of technological change, eight in 10 (78 per cent) CIOs are concerned about ensuring that their teams continue to have the right knowledge, skills and experience. They see this as a key driver of business success, with seven in 10 (69 per cent) believing that the need to upskill employees in the technology department is of critical or high importance.

Meanwhile, as Britain faces continued uncertainty due to Brexit delays, the research reveals that many business leaders are anxious about the impact it could have on their workforce. While three quarters (76 per cent) of CIOs are concerned about finding appropriate talent in today’s competitive market, more than half (51 per cent) worry they won’t be able to recruit enough employees with the right technical skills after Britain leaves the European Union.

However, the research, exploring the changing role of the CIO, also indicates that the tech sector is becoming more diverse with 64 per cent of CIOs saying their team members are from a wider range of backgrounds than they were five years ago, and seven in 10 (70 per cent) have more women on their teams.

Keith Little, CIO, Barclaycard, said: “Recruiting the best talent is always a priority for business leaders - but as our research shows, CIOs know it’s not enough to simply hire skilled individuals. To keep pace with the rapid technological change, tech leaders must be prepared to continually identify and address the skills gaps within their organisations.

“This could involve setting up new ways of working to better share knowledge across their business, reviewing training programmes or bringing in fresh expertise as the company’s technology goals evolve. The good news is that most CIOs say their team is more diverse than five years ago - suggesting they’re already taking steps to ensure they nurture a wider range of skills.”