Member Article

tombola gearing up for recruitment drive

EUROPE’S largest online bingo company has launched a major recruitment drive to increase its tech team by 50 per cent within the next 2-3 years.

Gaming giant tombola employs 310 in Sunderland, with its tech team currently working in its Rose Line Building HQ and in other nearby office space on the river riverside. The company already has one of the largest tech teams in the region.

Head of IT, Ian Walshaw explained: “Our priority in 2017 will be to recruit a significant number of talented senior developers who can make a big contribution immediately and also help us to prepare to invest even more in developers, graduates and apprentices when we move into our new HQ in Sunderland.

“tombola already plays an active role in the booming north east tech community and our landmark HQ will be an exciting hub for high tech workers.

“Nearly all the jobs at our new head office will be tech roles from game and web developers to infrastructure and information security roles.

“Our latest graduate scheme recruits have just completed their probation period with us and are all excited about what the future holds for them at tombola.

Ruthlyn Mollett, 23, studied Games Software Development at the University of Sunderland: “I was attracted to the Grad scheme because my husband joined tombola that way so I knew it was a great programme. I learn something new every day and have learned so much in a short time.

“I was also attracted by the benefits package which includes flexible working, great holidays, healthcare and a computer purchase scheme - and I’m excited about the new HQ which looks amazing.”

Rebecca Piper, 23, joined the tombola Graduate Scheme after studying Maths at Durham University followed by a coding course; “I’m now a Graduate Game Engine Developer which means I look at how the games work and the coding behind them, and hope to continue my career here by becoming a junior then senior developer.

“I really wanted to stay involved in technology in the northeast and am learning so much - I learned a completely new coding language in my first few weeks! Having people to learn from is so important and there are so many great tech people here. It’s exciting to be part of a tech team that is growing so much.”

tombola is already one of Sunderland’s largest employers and enjoys a very high staff retention rate, employing people from Northumberland to North Yorkshire.

“We’re already a market leader in Europe, and following this recruitment drive we’ll be one of the biggest employers of software developers in the region.

“The northeast tech community is an exciting place to be and we offer excellent benefits packages including flexible working, gym, subsidised travel and even a complimentary staff café for breakfast, lunch and snacks throughout the day.”

Unlike many other online gaming companies, tombola’s own designers and developers create all the games for its popular and successful website and apps, as well as the tombola arcade, a new offering giving people the opportunity to play arcade games on the go.

“Creating all our games gives us a real edge in the market – and also provides exciting and challenging work for our software designers and developers,” added Mr Walshaw.

Last year tombola announced plans to build a new £6m HQ next to its current offices in the city. Work is due to start on the 25,000-sq. ft. building in early 2017.

For information about the new tombola tech roles, log on to

https://www.tombola.co.uk/careers http://ops.tombola.co.uk/ https://twitter.com/tombolaOps

-Ends-

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by tombola .