IT in the Community Award

Circuit Riders North East – IT support for voluntary sector in the North East

The Circuit Riders North East project was established in September 2005 to provide IT assistance for the voluntary and community sector in the north-east of England. The project is overseen by the Voluntary Organisations’ Network North East (Vonne).

Organisations across County Durham, Tees Valley and Tyne and Wear have benefited from advice and assistance on IT problems ranging from software training to network setup.

Following a series of IT healthchecks of various organisations, Vonne identified several key issues and is now running a series of workshops to help voluntary organisations with IT funding and strategy, data management, branding and systems maintenance.

Computer Aid International – Refurbished computers for developing countries

Computer Aid International is a registered charity providing refurbished computers to schools and community organisations in developing countries.

Since its inception in 1998, the charity has shipped more than 70,000 PCs to 105 developing nations. Today, it provides a minimum specification of Pentium 3, 128Mb-RAM PCs with CD-Roms.

Last year the organisation developed strategic partnerships with governments, aid agencies and large non-governmental organisations to deliver projects on an unprecedented scale.

Among its notable successes is providing 300 Pentium 3 computers to the Kenyan Meteorological Office, enabling the delivery of critical climate data to the region’s farmers and fisherman.

Renfrewshire Council – Digital inclusion for sheltered housing

Renfrewshire Council’s Digital Inclusion for Sheltered Housing project has delivered internet access and t ailored training to elderly residents in all sheltered housing complexes in the region.

Although many residents were initially apprehensive about using new technology, they soon embraced the scheme enthusiastically and now use the internet for a variety of tasks, from sourcing information to communicating with family and friends.

The project has helped break down the barriers of isolation often felt by those in sheltered accommodation, allowing them to gain new knowledge, skills and the ability to become part of an open, electronic community.

Service Birmingham – Aston pride broadband community

Service Birmingham, a strategic partnership between Birmingham City Council and Capita, is improving IT skills in one of the city’s most deprived areas. The Aston Pride Broadband Community programme aimed to raise awareness and take-up of IT.

Since many Aston residents had previously shown little interest in using public-access IT facilities in the area, the programme worked hard to engage the community by trialling family learning in the home, using schoolchildren to drive take-up and schools as trusted equipment providers.

In addition, the scheme established a mobile broadband facility to take computing out into the community and employ community IT champions.

Sunderland City Council – e-Neighbourhoods programme

Sunderland City Council’s e-Neighbourhoods programme is attacking the digital divide on three fronts.

The Community Electronic Village Hall project is building and supporting local centres with flexible opening hours that provide free internet access in a supportive and informal environment.

A Community e-Champions project works in partnership with community workers to provide effective support in teaching community members how to use technology to meet their needs.

Thirdly, the Communities of Interest web site project is helping interest groups across the community develop their own web presence and online forums.

IT Employer of the Year

BP

BP believes in creating a diverse and inclusive working culture where everyone can fulfill their potential. The company is committed to ensuring employees have a good work-home balance, promoting flexible and remote working and other family-friendly policies such as career breaks and parental leave.

Staff at all levels are offered mentoring, and the company has an online Digital Academy to help IT staff achieve their professional aspirations.

Where appropriate, BP also encourages and helps employees to achieve relevant professional qualifications.

IT salaries are highly competitive and the organisation’s continual drive to innovate means IT work remains exciting and rewarding.

Centrica

Centrica employees can choose from a wide range of benefits including medical and life insurance, childcare vouchers and gym membership.

The company also offers flexible, mobile and remote working options, pays competitive IT salaries and operates share and bonus schemes for staff at all levels. The IT function has a dedicated learning and development team focusing on technical capabilities and soft skills such as leadership and change management. IT employees are also given many opportunities to work across business areas.

Caroline Cryer, IS learning and development manager, says: ‘Anyone who enjoys big-scale projects, rapid change and high levels of flexibility will flourish.’

JPMorgan Chase

Top-end IT salaries, generous benefits and the chance to build a career in a dynamic, cutting-edge environment have all helped financial services giant JPMorgan Chase onto this year’s shortlist.

The company is fiercely meritocratic and committed to diversity. It runs mentoring and buddying schemes for staff and its two-year graduate programme combines technical, role-specific content with soft skills training in communications, team management and similar subjects. IT is fully integrated into the business and staff are encouraged to rotate jobs to increase mobility. The company also recently lowered the seniority threshold at which employees are offered shares.