Key points
- One forecast puts UK demand for AI professionals at almost 300,000 by 2028, against a domestic supply of 137,000.
- Recruiters reported AI and machine-learning engineers, data engineers and software engineers in short supply in September 2026.
- A managed team gives you capacity without recruitment, as long as someone accountable is managing it.
In June 2026, People Management reported a forecast from recruiter Robert Walters and payments platform Native Teams: 54% of UK AI roles could go unfilled by 2028. Demand for AI professionals is expected to reach almost 300,000, against a projected domestic supply of 137,000.
UK AI professionals: forecast demand and supply by 2028
The pressure is already visible. In the Recruitment and Employment Confederation's September 2026 report, as covered by ContractorUK, agencies listed AI and machine-learning developers and engineers as in short supply for both contract and permanent roles. Data engineers, data architects and software engineers were on the shortage list for permanent vacancies. Government survey data, as reported by industry job boards, indicates that 97% of organisations have at least one AI skills gap and about 35% struggle to fill AI roles.
Three ways to staff the work
If a project cannot wait, the choice comes down to three routes. Each suits a different situation.
Hiring, contracting and managed teams compared
| Permanent hire | Independent contractor | Managed team | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time to start | Slowest: search, notice period, onboarding | Quick, if you can find one | Quick: people are already in place |
| Who manages them | You | You | The provider, or you if embedded |
| HR and payroll | You | The contractor | The provider |
| If someone leaves | You recruit again | Knowledge leaves with them | The provider replaces and hands over |
| Best for | Core, long-term roles | A short, well-defined task | Ongoing work that needs several skills |
What to check in a managed team
Managed teams are not all alike, and the label covers some arrangements that are little more than a CV-forwarding service. Four checks separate the two.
- Who is accountable? There should be a named person, reachable in your working hours, who answers for the team's work.
- Who holds the contracts? If the people are under contract with the provider, the provider carries HR, payroll and cover.
- Do you meet the people first? You should interview the individuals and have the final say.
- Who owns the work? Code, reports and documentation should belong to you, in writing.
How we approach it at NexAura
NexAura offers managed technology teams in two forms. In the first, we run a team as an extension of yours. In the second, our developers, data engineers and analysts are embedded in your organisation and take direction from your managers. In both, the people stay under contract with us, and a UK-based executive is accountable for them.
The same engineers build our client projects and our own products, so the people you add to your team have delivered working AI and data systems.