Steve Hallett
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Steve Hallett

Principal ConsultantSpecialising in Product & Delivery, Technical

With over 20 years experience as a successful consultant, Steve is highly skilled in delivering niche tech and digital experts to complex projects. Steve specialises in Product & Delivery and Technical: Development, Software, Infrastructure, Security & DevOps.

Hanover are proud to support a range of UK Government Departments in their mission to deliver digitised, optimised, public services for the benefit of UK Citizens through consulting and team building.

Our services are available through the following frameworks:

  • G-Cloud

  • DOS

  • Bloom/NEPRO 3

  • PSR

  • "I worked as a Hanover associate on a complex central government technology project. The working relationship with them was over a sustained period of time and I always found them to be supportive and knowledgeable, both on the associate and project side. They understood the complexity of the technical project I was landing into and it was a great fit for my skills, resulting in the right outcome for the client."

    Silvia

    Software Engineer

  • ​"Unlike other recruiters, Hanover treats contractors like human beings, rather than revenue-generating commodities! I would not hesitate to recommend their consultants"

    Chris

    Project Manager

  • ​"Hanover were clear, friendly and straightforward. Their intuition about roles suited to me was excellent and now I love my job!"

    Karin

    SEO Analyst

  • ​"My biggest appreciation of Hanover is that they helped me believe in my own work. It completely paid off and I got the job!"

    Henry

    Digital Designer

  • "What especially impressed me was that Hanover truly listened to what I was looking for and what my expectations for career progression were."

    Teri

    UX Designer

  • ​"Not only were Hanover great to deal with but they also followed up with me when I started in my new job to see how I was settling in." 

    Tom

    System Admin

  • Software Engineer
  • Project Manager
  • SEO Analyst
  • Digital Designer
  • UX Designer
  • System Admin
  • Data
    Informatica ETL Engineer

    We are looking for experienced Informatica ETL Engineers with Active SC Clearance to join our client, a central government/public sector organization, on a mainly remote working contract basis for a duration of 3-6 months initially.  The contract will start in January 2024. You will need at least 5 years’ experience.

    Apply Now
  • Data
    ETL Data Engineers

    We are looking for an experienced ETL Data Engineer with Active SC Clearance to join our client, a central government/public sector organization, on a mainly remote working contract basis for a duration of 3-6 months initially.   The contract will start in January 2024. You'll need at least 5 years’ experience with Talend. 

    Apply Now
  • COBOL Engineer

    As a COBOL Engineer, you will be delivering software development activity across the full range of development lifecycle; requirements gathering, analysis, design, coding/development, testing, implementation and live support. This may be within new systems development projects or enhancements and fixes to existing applications.

    Apply Now
  • Product & Delivery
    IT Trainer

    We're looking for a motivated I.T Trainer to join a defence agency. Your role:Develop a comprehensive training plan and training approach Undertake a detailed training needs analysis to understand training needs across impacted organisations Design, develop and deliver IT training for Digital Service. Materials are expected to include videos, user guides, and materials for virtual or in-person training Assess the impact and usefulness of training Experience / Skills:Business Change qualifications would be desirable Experience using iSpring Suite Max for developing training Training needs analysis Training strategy development Training development (videos, user guides) Training delivery and assessment

    Apply Now
  • IT Operations
    Digital Forensic Deputy Technical Manager

    As a Digital Forensic Deputy Technical Manager you will deliver an effective, efficient and high quality digital service through continuous development and management of accredited policies and procedures.This role covers all technical aspects and quality assurance of our laboratory and scene activities for digital forensics, including digital media, mobile devices, electronic storage devices, mobile device kiosks and other frontline tools as well as additional areas brought into scope by the Forensic Science Regulator.Day to day duties and responsibilities include:Support departmental development and maintenance of ISO17025 and ISO17020 policy and procedures for digital forensics to ensure they are fit for purpose Assist the development and maintenance of validation, verification and test/calibration processes for DF hardware, software and examination methods (including the creation of validation reference material) Help DF laboratory and scene staff maintain competence by conducting quality assurance checks (witnessed activity, peer reviews, QA of evidential reports, etc.) Ensure continuous improvement through the completion of internal audits against lab and scene-based DF working practices Support the Technical Managers in conducting root cause analysis and problem resolution when scientific/technical issues arise Identification and co-ordination of DF participation in Proficiency Testing and Inter-laboratory Comparison testing Assist with Digital Forensic capability development, such as through the delivery of automation, adoption of Cloud technologies or frontline digital forensic tools (Kiosks, etc.) Provide technical advice and guidance to the Quality Management Team and wider Forensics department in relation to all aspects of DF activity Build good working relationships with both internal and external partners Knowledge, skills and experience required:Ability to operate a wide range of digital forensic tools to preserve and examine digital media. Capable of disassembling and assembling digital devices; including identification, removal and safe handling of key components. Experience in data collection and/or analysis of evidence from digital devices, either laboratory-based or at crime scenes. Experience of working in, and supporting the maintenance of, an ISO-accredited environment (either ISO17025 or ISO17020) Foundation level certification in Digital Forensics (data recovery or mobile device examination) or equivalent experience of working in a digital forensic team.

    Apply Now
  • Senior SQL Developer

    We're looking for a Senior SQL Developer to join a healthcare organisation. Experience:Understanding SQL data base T-SQL Experience writing complex data High level of technical expertise to routinely analyse and solve highly complex technical problems Mentor junior colleagues, analysing their strengths and weaknesses and providing advice A good command grammar and writing skills Practical experience using source control systems as an effective way to solve business problems when developing bespoke software applications. Lead Daily SCRUMS Experience with Red gate desirable Experience in Health sector desirable

    Apply Now
  • Laravel Full Stack Developer

    We're hiring an experienced Laravel Full Stack Developer for a large Central Government department project. You'll be creating a web application using Laravel, Blade and Livewire and optimising the user journey through the web application.Experience: Excellent understanding and experience of full stack web development with Laravel and Livewire. Able to develop chat/conversation UI for streaming conversations Proficiency in HTML, CSS/SCSS, Javascript and PHP Able to make use of WebSockets and Server Side Events Able to test for Accessibility and compatibility Experience with appropriate software development practices such as version control, test-driven development and automated testing platforms. Good understanding of common security issues and apply good practices and be able to carry out internal security testing Working knowledge of cloud-based solutions such as Amazon Web Services, in particular, AWS Elastic Beanstalk and have familiarity with web server configuration with Nginx on Linux/Unix Experience using the UK Government Design System, and the government standards Experience with cloud APIs and a good understanding of API building and microservices.

    Apply Now
  • Product & Delivery
    Digital Delivery Manager

    As a Delivery Manager within the Cyber Security Team, you will be at the heart of our mission to secure this Central Government department against cyber threats. You will collaborate closely with the team, senior management, and stakeholders to manage and coordinate the delivery of cybersecurity initiatives. Responsibilities: Ensure the team is aligned with our mission and strategy, setting the pace of delivery, tracking progress, reporting on milestones, and removing any obstacles.  Act as a scrum master for key ceremonies. Cultivate a motivating, diverse, inclusive, and supportive team culture that promotes collaboration and continuously enhances our ways of working. Train and empower the team to adopt Agile methodologies and tools, fostering a culture of adaptability and responsiveness. In addition to the above, you will contribute to the team's growth and efficiency by: Supporting financial and commercial management processes, including budget coordination, financial reporting, and procurement activities in collaboration with Finance Business Partners and Commercial Managers. Coordinating responses to Freedom of Information requests, parliamentary questions, and requests for information from other government departments. Advocating for the team's services to raise awareness of cyber security risks and the services offered to manage these risks. Requirements: Be proactive and passionate about problem-solving. Be motivated to foster a culture of collaboration within the team. Possess strong interpersonal and communication skills, both oral and written, which can be applied effectively to various stakeholders, including customers, senior management, and technical/non-technical audiences. Be confident in applying Agile delivery methodologies. Desirable Qualifications: An understanding of and interest in cyber security and digital services. An interest in Agile methodologies, with a willingness to seek out best practices from the broader delivery management and Agile community. If you are looking for an opportunity to make a significant impact in the field of cybersecurity while working in a dynamic and collaborative environment, this is the role for you.

    Apply Now
  • Product & Delivery
    Technical Strategy Consultant – (Strategy Transformation Manager)

    We are looking for an experienced consultant that knows how to create technical strategies and roadmaps for a large UK Central Government department. You'll be creating a new version of the technical strategy and work across the programme to facilitate the creation of roadmaps that takes into account relevant technology developments, programme plans and products.Background: Extensive experience of creating roadmaps for a number of clients International communications standard experience Telecoms / public safety knowledge Security Clearance preferred 

    Apply Now
Cybersecurity
cybersecurity

​We’re living in an increasingly connected world, with a growing number of devices and digital services collecting, storing and processing more data than ever before.Emerging technologies continue to add value to our lives in work, social and consumer settings, but how does this impact cybersecurity risk?​Our Digital FootprintOur personal data is collected in countless ways. Manufacturers collect technical data when we have issues with an app or our computer, we fill out online forms to access public WiFi when we travel, retailers collect our behavioural and demographic data to inform advertising efforts – the list goes on.According to anti-virus provider Kaspersky, more than 940,000 of its users were attacked by malware designed to harvest a variety of data on their computers in the first half of 2019. In a world where most transactions are now done online, we often assume organisations will have appropriate security measures in place, but even the most sophisticated cybersecurity technology isn’t foolproof. A study from Juniper Research predicts annual online payment fraud losses from ecommerce, airline tickets, money transfer and banking services will reach $48 billion by 2023.​Emerging Technology and Increased ConnectivityAs businesses continue to disrupt traditional industries with emerging technologies, there is immense opportunity to create value but equally a greater need for security. Although IoT offers endless possibilities – from smart homes to entire smart cities, data sharing and connectivity between devices leave businesses significantly more vulnerable to a breach.The sheer amount of data being collected, not to mention how and where it is collected, processed and stored, makes it extremely difficult to safeguard. When a breach occurs in one data point, the entire ecosystem is at risk of being compromised. In the absence of official IoT guidance, technology partners are left to develop their own cyber risk policies as data governance is not evolving at the same pace.​Data Protection LegislationJust over half of all countries globally have some form of privacy and data legislation in place, and nearly one in three companies fall under the EU GDPR jurisdiction. GDPR applies to any organisation processing data of EU citizens, requiring the secure storing and processing of all sensitive data using appropriate operational and technical measures. It holds businesses accountable for managing security risk, reporting incidents and minimizing the impact when they do occur.Data protection should be the concern of more than just the IT department, and organisations should demonstrate shared accountability across key business functions. In its latest annual Cyber Security Breaches Survey the Government Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) reported that cyber security is a high priority for 78% of businesses, up from 74% last year.Among the organisations that identified breaches or attacks (32%), the most common were due to phishing emails, impersonation and viruses or other malware. 30% of businesses made changes to cyber security in regard to policy, training, system configurations and contingency plans because of GDPR, but there’s still a long way to go.​If you're looking for a new job in data, analysis, marketing, tech or digital, head over to our jobs page for our featured jobs or to submit your CV!

Cloud
evolution of cloud computing

At a time when Digital Transformation is on everyone’s lips and the sheer volume of tech coverage around some of the usual suspects such as AI, VR and Big Data is huge – Cloud Transformation is still current and one of the most prioritised initiatives for both big and not so big businesses across EMEA going into H2.It is no longer a question of whether or not companies will undergo a cloud transformation – but what services should be shifted into the Cloud exactly, how quickly can this happen, how much will it cost or indeed save the business and what are the priorities; from either a bottom up or a top down strategic approach. Cloud computing has an ability to kick-start other activities, for both external customers and internally as an organisation.​Short History of Cloud ComputingCloud Computing has been around for years and started back in the 60’s when an intergalactic computer network was first conceptualised by JCR Licklider. Since then, Cloud Computing has evolved somewhat. By the late 90’s, Web 2.0 came around, thanks largely to the availability of much improved bandwidths for the masses.SFDC arrived in 1999, leading the charge of delivering enterprise applications through a relatively basic website, laying the foundations for other software houses to begin delivering applications over the internet too. Google and others began offering browser-based enterprise applications including Google Apps (G Suite) as Web 2.0 really took off and another SaaS milestone passed. Microsoft contended with Office 365. Oracle, SAP and Microsoft encouraged their customers to upgrade to new cloud-based products over the next few years with great success. Monthly subscription services also appealed to IT buyers to avoid the CapEx peeks associated with hardware and software upgrades.Amazon Web Services (AWS) emerged in 2002, before launching Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) in 2006. Today, they dominate the global IaaS market and according to Gartner in 2017, many enterprises now spend more than $5m of their IT budgets on Amazon’s cloud services a year.The next decade of Cloud Computing will be just as eventful. Security in the Cloud is perhaps now seen as a strength rather than a perceived weakness early on. Over the course of the past decade, cloud computing has evolved from being something service providers told companies they should be adopting to becoming the technological lifeblood that runs through most modern enterprises.​Legacy providers vs. cloud native suppliersLegacy software providers, such as Microsoft, Oracle and SAP, have all made a concerted effort over the past decade to encourage users of their on-premise software offerings to upgrade to their cloud equivalents that they usually subscribe to on a pay-as-you-go basis. This, in turn, has seen IT departments gradually shift away from treating their software and hardware purchases as “big bang” capital expenditures that happen once every so often (or as the upgrade cycle dictates).As enterprises have become increasingly accustomed to the pay-as-you-go cloud billing model, treating IT purchases as more of a day-to-day expense has become the norm, and – where SaaS is concerned – there is still a lot of room for market growth. Particularly, there are still plenty of enterprises yet to join the cloud software bandwagon, points out John Dinsdale, chief analyst at IT market watcher Synergy Research Group.“Traditional enterprise software vendors like Microsoft, SAP, Oracle and IBM still have a huge base of on-premise software customers and they are all now pushing to aggressively convert those customers to a SaaS-based consumption model,” he says.“At the same time, born-in-the-cloud software vendors like Workday, Zendesk and ServiceNow continue to light a fire under the market and help to propel enterprise spending on SaaS.”​IaaS and the public cloudAnother important milestone in the development of the cloud market as we know it today was the emergence of Amazon Web Services (AWS) in 2002. The company provided a suite of cloud-based infrastructure services including storage, computation and even human intelligence through the Amazon Mechanical Turk.Then, in 2006, Amazon launched its Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) as a commercial web service that allows small companies and individuals to rent computers on which to run their own computer applications. Today, the firm is the undisputed leader of the infrastructure as a service (IaaS) market, the company continues to add thousands of new services and features to its cloud services portfolio each year, and is a bone fide multibillion dollar enterprise.According to figures published by IT analyst house Gartner in 2017, many enterprises now spend more than $5m of their IT budgets on Amazon’s cloud services a year. “With an accelerating pace of innovation on top of an already rich portfolio of services, and an expanding impact across a range of IT markets, [AWS] is the provider most commonly chosen for strategic adoption,” stated Gartner in its 2017 IaaS Magic Quadrant report, which ranks the runners and riders of the cloud infrastructure sector. While not the ideal for every need, it has become the ‘safe choice’ in this market, appealing to customers that desire the broadest range of capabilities and long-term market leadership.”​Cloud service providers: The runners and ridersAmazon, in particular, initially started out pitching its wares to startups, hailing the public cloud as way to get their businesses up and running without having to shell out tens of thousands of pounds to acquire on-premise servers, storage and networking equipment.Unburdened by the capacity, cost and maintenance constraints that come from having to rely on traditional, legacy, on-premise hardware, this eased the path from startup to scale up for many of these early cloud-adopting companies. So much so, “cloud-native” organisations (as they came to be known) started to emerge that were able to out-innovate their longer-established (and oftentimes better-funded) peers because the business agility cloud afforded them.The Google Cloud Platform, which is the coverall term used for its IaaS offerings, has also followed a similar path, by starting out focusing on winning over startups, before ramping up the enterprise-readiness of its services to boost their appeal to a wider range of users. Keen to prevent their hold on whatever market they’re operating in from weakening, enterprises soon followed the lead of their nimbler, cloud-native contemporaries and began looking for ways to reduce their reliance on on-premise technologies too. And it is here that Microsoft, with its Azure public cloud proposition and its sizeable enterprise install base, has found itself with something of an advantage over its startup-focused competitors.While Amazon and Google have both sought to increase the enterprise-readiness of their offerings, as they have set their sights on conquering the world of corporate IT, Microsoft has years of experience in knowing what CIOs look for in a prospective IT provider. Originally pitched as Microsoft’s take on platform as a service (PaaS) at launch in 2012, the remit of Azure was extended to include IaaS in spring 2013 with the general release of Azure Virtual Machines around that time.On the back of long-term users of the Redmond giant’s on-premise technologies upgrading and migrating workloads to Azure, Microsoft is now regularly cited by the analyst community as being the second biggest IaaS provider (after AWS) in the world.“Microsoft is frequently chosen as a strategic cloud provider by customers that are committed to Microsoft technologies or that like Microsoft’s overall cloud strategy, which spans IaaS, PaaS, SaaS and on-premises solutions,” said Gartner, in its 2017 IaaS Magic Quadrant report. Microsoft is leveraging its tremendous sales reach and ability to bundle Azure with other Microsoft products and services to drive adoption. It is steadily growing the size of Azure customers; many are beginning to spend more than $500,000 a year, and a few exceed $5m in annual spending.​The evolution of cloudCloud has also prompted a number of other service providers to tweak their product offerings and wider business strategies to account for the change in enterprise IT buying behaviour this industry mega-trend has brought about. HPE, Dell and VMware, for example, initially set out to go head-to-head with Amazon, Google and Microsoft before calling time on their public cloud initiatives at various points over the past five or so years, citing competitive pressures.While some have opted out of the game altogether, VMware and Rackspace have taken a slightly different route, with both positioning themselves as organisations that can help enterprises manage the applications and workloads running in their competitors’ public clouds.In the case of Rackspace, it ended up ceding its initial early lead in the IaaS market to AWS, and since 2015 (or thereabouts) has moved to help enterprises manage their Amazon, Microsoft and Google cloud deployments. This pivot has paid off for the firm, with its AWS managed service offering regularly flagged by the firm as being one of the fastest-growing parts of its overall business.VMware, meanwhile, sold off its public cloud business to French IaaS challenger, OVH, in April 2017, having spent a couple of years before that repositioning itself as a hybrid cloud provider that can help enterprises manage and applications in the AWS and Microsoft clouds.​Where next for Cloud Computing?In light of all this, it is fair to say the next 10 years of cloud are likely to be just as eventful, as enterprise appetites for the technology (and their expectations about how it will benefit their organisations) continues to grow, adds Synergy Research’s Dinsdale.“Major barriers to cloud adoption are now almost a thing of the past, with previously perceived weaknesses such as security now often seen as strengths,” he says. “Cloud technologies are now generating massive revenues for cloud service providers and technology vendors and we forecast that current market growth rates will decline only slowly over the next five years.”​If you're looking for a new job, check out our featured jobs and send us your CV here!Hiring for your team? 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