Ashdown Group

A market leading organisation is seeking a personable and forward-thinking Business Systems Manager to join its team based in Stoke-on-Trent. Please note, this role is fully office based, five days per week. This is a business-critical position offering the opportunity to play a key role in shaping how the organisation operates through technology, systems, and data. It will suit someone who enjoys improving processes, driving positive change, and delivering smarter, more effective ways of working across a business. You will take ownership of core business systems and applications, ensuring they continue to support the organisation effectively while identifying opportunities for improvement, integration, and innovation. Working closely with teams across the business, you will gain a strong understanding of operational challenges and help deliver practical technology solutions that improve efficiency, performance, reporting, and the overall user experience. Alongside the day-to-day management and support of business systems, you will contribute to wider digital improvement initiatives, helping to streamline processes, enhance data quality, and support informed business decision-making. You will also act as a trusted point of contact for users across the organisation, providing guidance, troubleshooting support, and helping colleagues maximise the value of the systems they use. To be considered for this role, you must possess a strong blend of technical capability, commercial awareness, and excellent interpersonal skills. You should be comfortable managing projects, working with third-party suppliers, and leading system enhancements from concept through to delivery. Strong problem-solving ability, a proactive mindset, and a passion for continuous improvement are essential. This role would suit an experienced systems professional who enjoys variety, collaboration, and having a genuine impact on business operations. Previous experience working with ERP, CRM, or other business-critical systems is highly desirable, alongside exposure to reporting tools, system integrations, or data management processes. This is an excellent opportunity to join a successful and evolving organisation where you can make a visible impact and help shape future business improvements.

Firewall Engineer - Palo Alto - Permanent full time role with large financial services company - Salary circa £80,000 plus bonus and benefits - Hybrid working (3 days in the office) - Palo Alto background is essential We're looking for an experienced Engineer to help design, manage, and improve a large enterprise Firewall environment. This role will focus on hands-on support and projects across on-prem and cloud platforms. Responsibilities will include: Designing and deliver enterprise-scale Firewall solutions Lead security and network modernisation projects Research and introduce new security technologies Provide Tier 3 support for complex issues Document designs and share knowledge Mentor and support other engineers To be considered suitable you will need the following skills/experience: Strong background with Palo Alto Firewalls (Panorama, NGFW, Prisma Access) Strong enterprise network experience Palo Alto certification - PCNSE Good understanding of network security

Position Details This is a newly created position for a Senior .Net Software Developer based in Central London, paying £90,000. This role is 5 days a week in the Oxford Street area of Central London. Key Responsibilities The successful candidate will be responsible for the design & implementation of backend solutions for all internal & customer based software products. Qualifications & Experience To be considered for this position, you will be a highly experienced Lead C# Software Developer with solid Azure cloud experience. Ideally, you will have a background with B2C website booking platforms / hospitality systems, and be happy to work as a stand alone .NET developer in a team with a Front End Developer and a UX Designer. Ideal Senior C# .Net Developer will have previous experience with: Software design & architecture C# & .Net Core React.js &/or Next.js LINQ, JSON & Inversion of Control Azure PaaS, Function Apps, Blob/Table Storage, Service Bus Topics, Azure Search and API Management Infrastructure as Code (ideally Terraform) and its use in CI/CD pipeline based deployment Agile development framework Benefits Based in Central London my client is within walking distance of Bond Street & Oxford Circus tube stations. This role will be 5 days a week in the office, so please only apply if you are able to commit to this. In return for hard work and dedication my client is offering a salary of £90,000. If you are an experienced Senior Software Developer or Lead Software Developer with impressive C# skills and you are looking for a new challenge, please send me your CV immediately.

This is a newly created position for a Graduate IT Security Engineer to join a growing MSP in the Gloucester / Stroud area. This role pays £26,000 moving to £28,000 upon completion of probation + formal certifications & training. To be considered for this position, you will be a recent IT graduate, ideally with an IT Security degree. My client will put you through various IT security courses, including SC-200, SC-300 &/or SC-900 certifications. Working for a well-established MSP, you will learn IT security frameworks as well as IT security implementations & audits. ISO27001 - Implementation, maintenance, audits & certification Cyber Essentials & Cyber Essentials Plus Entra ID, Intune & MS Defender Networking fundamentals & firewalls Understanding of risk management & security tools This role will initially be 5 days a week in the office, but upon probation completion, will be allowed a hybrid work arrangement consisting of working from home, working in the office, and customer site visits. Working for an MSP, you will provide the complete range of IT Security services to the customers - from audits to implementations to maintenance and certifications. If you are a recent IT Security graduate with a desire to work for an MSP, please send me your CV immediately. This role is based in the Gloucester / Stroud area and pays £26,000, moving to £28,000 upon completion of probation + formal certifications & training.

Ashdown Group is looking for a Graduate IT Security Engineer to join their team in the Gloucester/Stroud area. The ideal candidate will be a recent IT graduate with an IT Security degree. This role offers an initial salary of £26,000, increasing to £28,000 upon completion of probation, alongside training and formal certifications. Responsibilities include implementing IT security frameworks and providing a range of security services. The position starts in-office, with a hybrid work arrangement after probation.

A global technology company is seeking an experienced IT Project Manager to join their team in Greater London. This role offers a hybrid working model and is situated close to Surbiton station. The successful candidate will manage various projects related to software and web solutions, ensuring effective delivery and stakeholder communication. The position offers a competitive salary of up to £68,000 plus benefits, making it an excellent opportunity for those looking to make a significant impact in a dynamic environment.

A well-established charity in SW London is seeking an Information Security Lead to oversee cloud security and governance. You will lead technical security efforts, incident response, and risk management while fostering a secure environment in Azure and Microsoft 365. The role offers a salary of up to £60,000 and the flexibility of working one day per week in the office. Ideal candidates should possess strong technical expertise across various security frameworks and a proven track record in leadership.

Information Security Lead - Cloud - SW London, Hybrid - £60k One day per week in the office - rest from home. A well-established, values-driven charity based in SW London is looking for a seasoned Information Security Lead to be the authority across all Information Security and Cloud Infrastructure; ensuring Azure, Microsoft 365, and SaaS platforms are secure, resilient, and compliant. The role combines hands on technical security expertise with risk management, governance, and assurance, supporting business objectives while reducing cyber and data protection risk. As the Senior Information Security Analyst you will lead security architecture decisions, oversee incident response and vulnerability management, support secure digital transformation, and provide clear, risk based advice to stakeholders and senior leadership. The position operates with a high degree of autonomy and focuses on security leadership & technical excellence and enablement, rather than day to day service desk operations. Ideal Candidate The ideal candidate will have strong technical skills across the following: Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD): Conditional Access, MFA, Passwordless authentication, Identity Protection, PIM, Phishing resistant MFA configurations Zero Trust architecture and least privilege access models Identity governance, access reviews, and privileged account management and access reviews SSO integration across SaaS platforms Active Directory & Hybrid Identity: AD security, tiered access model, legacy AD decommissioning, secure hybrid environments Microsoft 365 & Cloud Security Microsoft Defender XDR (Endpoint, Identity, Office 365, Cloud Apps) Microsoft Sentinel (SIEM): log ingestion, alert tuning, detection rules, incident workflows Intune & Endpoint Management: device compliance, MDM/MAM, BYOD enforcement Endpoint, Infrastructure & Asset Security Network, DNS & Access Security DNSFilter: DNS layer protection, malicious domain blocking, reporting and threat visibility Azure Firewall, VPN security, and network segmentation of Azure infrastructure PowerShell scripting for security, identity, and infrastructure tasks Security automation using Logic Apps and SIEM workflows if required The salary on offer for this role is up to £60,000.

Overview IT Project Manager - Web/Software/Digital Hybrid working - 4 days in the office and 1 at home per week - fully subsidised restaurant and gym Close to Surbiton station - KT6 A well-established, global business based in Surbiton, Surrey are looking for an experienced Project Manager to join their team. This technology focused, rapidly expanding international business is looking for an experienced Prince 2 accredited Project Manager with previous experience across Web or Software based projects. This is a brilliant opportunity to join a supportive, dynamic and forward thinking business in a role where you can make a real impact. Responsibilities Participate in all Software Delivery Lifecycle stages from discovery to delivery and benefit realisation Help to develop project approaches and plans Prepare and maintain project plan and schedule including; activities, tasks, milestones, deliverables, dependencies, resources and budget Monitor, track and report progress against the project plan Measure and evaluate performance against plan Identify issues, risks and mitigating strategies to minimize impact Maintain a RAID log Administer project change control as appropriate Define and maintain project communications with key stakeholders Managing a range of different projects from software to infrastructure and application development projects Managing and driving UAT, product acceptance, and change request processes Identify resource requirements and assign responsibilities for Business Analysts, Testers and Trainers Qualifications Experience across software, web or CRM based projects Experience managing mid sized projects with budgets from £200k-£500k The salary on offer for this role is up to £68,000 plus benefits.

A multinational telecoms firm is looking for an accomplished Information Security Consultant to join its team on an initial 5 month contract. Please note this role is Inside IR35 and you will be required to work in the office 3 days per week with 2 days from home. This is an urgent requirement so please only apply if you can start on or before Monday, 23rd February. In order to be suitable for this position you must have proven experience of implementing ISO 27001 and have a solid understanding of NIS 2 and PCI DSS. You will ideally be a certified ISO 27001 Lead Implementer and must have proven implementation and audit experience. You will have a detailed knowledge of risk methodologies, coupled with technical experience of systems, networks and security architectures which will enable you to evaluate risk and assess the effectiveness of controls. You will have broad knowledge of compliance, risk management, vulnerability management, allied to extensive knowledge of security standards, including expertise in ISO27001. Excellent written and verbal communication and documentation skills are also a prerequisite. In this business-critical position, you will play a crucial role in implementing ISO27001 and ensuring compliance with the NIS 2 and PCI DSS. You will prepare the firm for an external audit, write policies, conduct risk assessments, and continually improve the ISMS. It will be your responsibility to carry out the 'hands on' implementation of ISO 27001.

A multinational telecoms firm is seeking an accomplished Information Security Consultant to join its team on an initial 5-month contract. The role requires implementation of ISO 27001, compliance with NIS 2 and PCI DSS, and strong skills in risk management. The candidate must have a certification as an ISO 27001 Lead Implementer and experience in preparing for external audits. The position demands excellent communication skills and a hands-on approach to continuously improve the ISMS.

A well established business is looking for an accomplished Product Owner with proven experience across the full software development lifecycle to join its sizeable technology team, based in Putney, South West London. You will work on site 3 days per week, with 2 days from home. In order to be suitable for this role of significant responsibility you must have demonstrable expertise in the delivery of development projects in an Agile Scrum environment. You will work closely with the senior management team on multifaceted software products, helping to both define requirements and deliver cutting edge solutions on time and within budget. You will lead product design and development and maintain the product development roadmap. It is expected that you will be fully conversant with the Agile Scrum methodology, while Prince2 accreditation would be advantageous to your application but is by no means essential. Excellent communication and influencing skills are essential, as is demonstrable expertise in managing software products. This is an excellent opportunity for a proven Product Owner to join a highly successful company that offers a truly exceptional range of benefits and clearly defined career path.

A well-established technology company in Greater London seeks an experienced Product Owner to join its sizable team. The successful candidate will have proven expertise in managing software products through the entire development lifecycle, with a strong focus on Agile Scrum methodologies. You'll collaborate closely with management to deliver innovative solutions on time and within budget. This role offers a competitive salary and an exceptional range of benefits along with a clear career path.

Cyber Security Governance, Risk and Compliance Manager - Lincolnshire based (hybrid) - Full time permanent role with a large business - Salary circa £60k plus bonus, great pension and more! We're partnering with a well-established, values-driven organisation looking to appoint a Cyber GRC Manager to strengthen governance, risk, and compliance across their technology and cyber landscape. This is a key role where you'll help shape and embed best-practice frameworks, ensuring the business remains secure, compliant, and resilient in an evolving threat environment. The Role You'll take ownership of cyber governance and risk management, working closely with senior stakeholders to identify, assess, and mitigate risk while ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements and industry standards. Key Responsibilities Leading cyber risk management activities, including maintaining risk registers Supporting governance frameworks, policies, and controls Delivering risk-based audits across IT and cyber environments Collaborating with internal teams and external partners Providing clear reporting and insight to senior stakeholders About You Experience within cyber GRC, IT audit, or risk management Strong understanding of frameworks such as ISO 27001, NIST, or similar Confident communicator, able to translate technical risks into business impact Proactive and detail-oriented, with a collaborative approach

A leading retailer is seeking a Senior IT Project Manager to oversee a large-scale systems integration programme. The ideal candidate will manage multiple vendors, ensuring the successful implementation of critical retail systems. Responsibilities include leading the project across various sites and delivering key solutions related to space planning and stock ordering. A solid understanding of project management methodologies and extensive retail sector experience are essential. This role offers a contract with a day rate of around £700 outside IR35 and the flexibility of remote work.

Senior IT Project Manager - Retail Systems Integration 3-6 month contract Day rate circa £700 outside IR35 Ideally able to get to Lincoln one day a week but fully remote is acceptable Please only apply if you have significant experience in managing system implementations/integrations within the retail sector We're working with a leading retailer to recruit an experienced Senior IT Project Manager to support a large-scale, multi-vendor systems implementation programme. This is a fantastic opportunity to play a key role in delivering complex technology change across multiple sites, ensuring seamless integration of critical retail systems. You will be responsible for leading the end-to-end delivery of a major systems integration programme, working across multiple vendors and stakeholders to ensure successful implementation and rollout. Key responsibilities include: Delivering a programme of work across multiple retail locations/stores Managing multiple vendors across system implementation and integration Overseeing solutions covering space planning, stock ordering, and forecasting Ensuring successful UAT (User Acceptance Testing) and coordinating rollout activities Driving the seamless integration of multiple platforms and technologies To be considered, you will have: Proven experience delivering large-scale system implementations/integrations within the retail sector Strong project management background with a solid understanding of delivery methodologies Experience managing multiple third-party vendors (e.g. integration partners, testing partners, platform providers) A track record of delivering complex projects across multiple sites

Ashdown Group is looking for a Network Automation Engineer to enhance a global enterprise network from their London office. The role involves driving network automation initiatives, improving efficiency, and supporting infrastructure modernisation projects. Candidates should have strong experience in network automation, proficiency in relevant tools like Python and Ansible, and a solid networking background. The offer includes a competitive salary up to £80,000 plus bonuses and benefits, with a hybrid working model.

A large London business is looking for an experienced Firewall Engineer to design and manage enterprise firewall solutions. This permanent role offers a salary of circa £80,000 plus bonus and benefits, with hybrid working arrangements. The successful candidate will have a strong background in Palo Alto firewalls and enterprise networking, providing hands-on support for both on-prem and cloud environments. Responsibilities include leading security projects, mentoring, and working on complex issues.

Overview Firewall Engineer - Permanent full time role with large London business Salary circa £80,000 plus bonus and benefits Hybrid working (3 days in the office) Palo Alto background is essential We're looking for an experienced Firewall Engineer to help design, manage, and improve a large enterprise firewall environment. This role will focus on hands-on support and projects across on-prem and cloud platforms. Responsibilities Designing and deliver enterprise-scale firewall solutions Lead security and network modernisation projects Research and introduce new security technologies Provide Tier 3 support for complex issues Document designs and share knowledge Mentor and support other engineers To be considered suitable you will need the following skills/experience: Strong background with Palo Alto firewalls (Panorama, NGFW, Prisma Access) Strong enterprise network experience Palo Alto certification - PCNSE Good understanding of network security

Network Automation Engineer City of London (Hybrid) Permanent Up to £80,000 + Bonus & Benefits We're working with a leading financial services organisation looking to hire a Network Automation Engineer to join their growing infrastructure team. This is a fantastic opportunity to play a key role in modernising and automating a large-scale, global enterprise network, working at the intersection of networking and DevOps. The Role You'll be responsible for driving network automation initiatives, improving efficiency, and supporting the design and delivery of scalable, resilient infrastructure across a complex global environment. Key Responsibilities Designing and implementing network automation solutions Developing and maintaining automation tools using Python, Ansible, and Terraform Supporting network transformation and infrastructure modernisation Collaborating with architects on new implementations Providing 3rd line support across network environments Working across cloud and on-premise infrastructure Enhancing network security and performance About You Strong experience in network automation and engineering Proficiency in Python, Ansible, and Terraform Solid networking background (routing, switching, firewalls) Experience with Cisco technologies (CCNP/CCIE desirable) Knowledge of cloud platforms (Azure preferred) Exposure to SD WAN, load balancing (F5), and network security Comfortable working in complex, enterprise scale environments What's on Offer Hybrid working (3 days in London office) Competitive salary + bonus Opportunity to work on large scale modernisation projects Collaborative and forward thinking environment