Bet365 to Hire 200 New Tech Staff
Bet365 has unveiled plans to recruit more than 200 new staff across its technology teams. It has invited those affected by the widespread layoffs in the tech sector to apply. Companies like Meta, Twitter and Tesla have all recently taken the tough decision to make redundancies in a bid to rein in costs.
Bet365 recently launched its own Software Testing Academy in Stoke-on-Trent. ©ThisIsEngineering/Pexels
New Software Testing Academy
British bookmaker Bet365 has revealed that it is actively recruiting for more than 200 roles across its technology teams. The news comes amidst huge layoffs in the tech industry in recent weeks, at firms including Meta, Twitter and Tesla. The Stoke-on-Trent sportsbook has encouraged those affected by the layoffs to apply for its opportunities.
The roles are split across the operator’s headquarters in Stoke-on-Trent, its hub in Manchester and remote working. Positions are being hired for across various departments, including software development, software testing, infrastructure, IT services and cloud divisions.
A spokesperson for Bet365 said that the operator is driven by its vision to offer the highest standards. The bookmaker has been renowned for its innovative streak since it became one of the earliest operators to take the plunge into online betting in the early 2000s.
That gamble certainly paid off, as Bet365 boss Denise Coates has been the UK’s highest tax-payer for three consecutive years. From its humble beginnings in a portacabin, Bet365 is now one of the UK’s leading sports betting operators. The bookmaker is still run by the Coates family, whose net worth of £8.637 billion puts them in 16th place on the Sunday Times Rich List.
Bet365 says that its technology teams are the best in the industry and that its passion for innovation means that it is always on the lookout for the best candidates. Earlier this year, the bookmaker won the mobile sports betting product category at the EGR Operator Awards.
In October, Bet365 announced the launch of its new software testing academy. The academy will initially be run from the company’s Stoke headquarters and aims to inspire those seeking careers in technology. Successful applicants will benefit from hands-on learning in active technical projects with the support of mentors. Trainees will then join a testing team, where they will collaborate with others and further enhance their analytical, organizational and communication skills.
Industry Layoffs
A number of major international tech companies are facing economic pressures at the moment, leading to some tough decisions. Cost-cutting measures have led to thousands of redundancies across the industry, as firms seek to reign in their finances.
A week after Elon Musk bought Twitter for $44 billion, it has been revealed that half of the social media platform’s staff will be let go. According to the new owner, Twitter is losing more than $4 million a day. Musk has also stated that remote working will end, as staff are expected to come into the office for at least 40 hours a week.
Musk’s handling of the takeover has not come without criticism. Twitter employees have filed a class action lawsuit against the job cuts, arguing that staff have been made redundant without 60 days’ notice, in violation of federal and Californian law.
Powerful brands including Volkswagen, Pfizer and General Motors have halted their advertising spending on Twitter, which could hurt revenues. At the moment, almost all of the platform’s revenue comes from advertising. Musk has been exploring new avenues for revenue, including a controversial monthly fee for users to be verified with a blue tick.
The $8 monthly fee would allow users to boost their tweets in replies, mentions and searches. However, some have criticized the move as it would create a two-tier system benefitting those who can pay. A number of Twitter users have already jumped ship to alternative platform Mastodon, where nearly half a million people have joined in the last week.
In the wake of his Twitter acquisition, Musk has sold another $4 billion of electric car manufacturer Tesla’s shares. Since purchasing Twitter, the world’s richest man has sold nearly $20 billion worth of Tesla’s shares. The company’s share price has fallen by over 50% since the beginning of the year and 10% of staff have been cut.
Economic Slow Down
Earlier this week, Meta, which owns Facebook and WhatsApp, announced plans to cut 13% of its workforce. In the first mass layoff in the company’s history, 11,000 employees will lose their jobs. Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg was apologetic, describing the cuts as the most difficult changes he has had to make in Meta’s history.
Meta’s stock has fallen to its lowest level since 2016. A macroeconomic downturn has been blamed, as the company over invested following pandemic growth. Meta’s Reality Labs division has already lost $9.4 billion this year, as Zuckerberg refuses to limit development of the Metaverse. Instead, the company will reduce spending on buildings and offices and increase desk-sharing.
Meanwhile, Cryptocurrency giant Binance has backed out of a bailout deal for rival FTX, which has now filed for bankruptcy. FTX suffered what it called a “liquidity crunch” after concerns about the company’s financial health triggered $6 billion of withdrawals in three days. The problems at FTX have caused turmoil in the crypto markets. FTX was the world’s second largest crypto exchange.
All of these job cuts come as the tech sector faces a testing time. Economic growth has slowed globally, leaving firms to deal with challenge of plugging expenditure where they can. Silicon Valley tech journalist Michael Malone has described the problems faced by the industry as a “triple whammy” of inflation, slowing economy and the end of pandemic-driven growth.
Speaking to the BBC, he said that no one has come up with a really great product in recent years. Despite the promise of Facebook’s Metaverse, the future of the company is still up in the air. However, Malone is still optimistic that the sector will recover. He refused to write off Silicon Valley just yet, pinning his hopes on the start-up scene.
