Building a successful tech team in today’s climate is no small feat. Whether you’re scaling quickly or navigating transformation, getting the right people in place and creating the right environment for them to thrive is crucial.
At Ghyston, we’ve been speaking to technology leaders across industries about what it really takes to create a high-performing, future-ready tech function. Here’s what we’ve learned.
Hire for Where You're Going
Hiring for today’s needs might get the job done, but it won’t prepare you for what’s next. The best leaders are thinking ahead and hiring people who can grow with the business.
Many are now looking for so-called 'gradient' hires. These are individuals who not only meet current requirements but are also aligned with the direction of travel for the organisation. As AI takes care of more routine development tasks, we’re likely to see a shift towards more specialised roles that combine technical skills with domain expertise. Titles like “Healthcare Engineer” or “Retail Technologist” may become more common.
To stay ahead, it’s worth reviewing hiring frameworks and job descriptions to ensure they reflect where you want to be in the next two years, not just where you are now. Look for adaptability, curiosity and a growth mindset alongside technical ability.
Culture Wins Where Perks Can’t
When it comes to attracting talent, especially against tech giants, culture can be your biggest advantage. Autonomy, trust and meaningful work often matter more than salary or flashy perks.
Developers want to make a real impact. They value fast feedback loops, clear outcomes and the ability to influence how things are done. While working on exciting products can help, many are drawn to environments where their work is valued and they can see the results quickly.
We also heard strong support for internship and returner programmes. These provide opportunities to test for cultural fit early on and build longer-term hiring pipelines in a more inclusive way.
The challenge is to preserve that sense of autonomy and belonging as your organisation grows. Clear expectations, well-defined roles and supportive structures are essential to help teams stay aligned without losing their independence.
Structure for the Team You’re Becoming
Growth often highlights weaknesses in team structures and governance. This is especially true for companies in the £15 million to £30 million turnover range, where a lack of scalable processes can hold things back.
One theme that came up repeatedly was accountability. When ownership is unclear, progress slows and decision-making becomes muddled. Clear roles, decision rights and performance metrics help everyone understand what success looks like and how to achieve it.
Now is the time to put in place the systems that will support your future, not just your current operations. That includes regularly reviewing reporting lines, decision-making frameworks and communication processes. And while it may be tempting to lower the bar when hiring under pressure, the long-term cost of compromising on quality is rarely worth it.
Be Purposeful with AI, and Back Junior Talent
AI is now everywhere. That makes it less of a differentiator and more of a baseline expectation. What matters is how it's applied. The focus needs to be on using AI to deepen expertise and unlock new opportunities, not simply to automate.
At the same time, there’s growing concern about the impact on junior roles. If fewer early-career opportunities exist, we risk limiting the pipeline of future senior talent. Supporting junior staff through mentoring, structured development and inclusive hiring practices is essential if we want a sustainable and diverse tech workforce.
Build with Purpose, Grow with Confidence
At Ghyston, we believe that building great software starts with building great teams. Whether you’re scaling up or setting the foundations for long-term transformation, we can help you create the right conditions for success.
If you’re thinking about how to shape your tech team for the future, we’d love to hear from you.
Get in touch
📧 hello@ghyston.com
