BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT

As Volunteers’ Week continues, today we’re celebrating the incredible contributions of Dr Safia Barikzai MBCS! 🎉 Safia’s journey with BCS volunteering began over 20 years ago, inspired and encouraged by Professor Margaret Ross - a mentor who continues to inspire so many in the community to give back. Safia's very first volunteering experience, while still an undergraduate, was helping a local primary school admin team with their tech challenges. That moment, realising a small act of support could make a big difference, was just the beginning. Since then, Safia has gone on to lead and support countless initiatives. One of her proudest moments? Chairing the BCS Women Lovelace Colloquium, the UK’s national conference for women and non-binary computing students, and seeing her own student win a national computing prize there. Full-circle moments like these are what volunteering is all about! Safia also wanted to give thanks to the many people who’ve supported and encouraged her over the years: 👏 Peter Chalk, Peter Linecar, Professor Margaret Ross 👏 Her amazing Lovelace friends: Hannah Dee, Jon Jeffery, Amanda Clare, Lucy Hunt, Matthew Barr, Anna Doyle, Claire Johnston, Munira Raja 👏 AfBE-UK founders: Nike Folayan and Ollie Folayan 👏 and her colleagues and students at London South Bank University: Ian Mackie and George Ubakanma 👉 Feeling inspired? Volunteering with BCS opens doors to connection, collaboration, and the chance to make a meaningful impact. Explore how you can get involved and grow with us - https://lnkd.in/eFRkwWev

🎖️ Celebrating Excellence in Defence Digital Skills We were honoured to sponsor and present the award for Best Performing Student in the Computing Modules at the Royal Signals Foreman of Signals (Information Systems) Graduation Dinner and Awards Ceremony last week! Join us in congratulating SSgt FoFS (IS) Anish Gurung for their outstanding achievement on such a demanding and respected course. Presented by our Key Account Manager for Defence and Government, Samuel Cullum-Short MBCS, this award recognises the exceptional digital talent being developed within the The Royal Corps of Signals. We're committed to championing professionalism in IT across all sectors, and are proud to support the MOD and its future-ready workforce.🔐💻 #RoyalSignals #ITSkills #MinistryofDefence #CyberSecurity #Professionalism

This week marks a significant milestone. The Digital Poverty Alliance has launched its updated National Delivery and Advocacy Plan - a practical, action-focused framework developed through two years of cross-sector collaboration and frontline experience. The Plan sets out six national missions to tackle the root causes of digital exclusion, including: - Affordable connectivity - Inclusive design - Digital skills - Community capacity We support this important launch 100%. The UK now has both the opportunity and the responsibility to drive real, measurable progress - and this Plan offers the structure to make it happen. #EndDigitalPoverty | #DigitalInclusion | #NDAP25

Volunteers’ Week continues and today we’re celebrating one of our fantastic BCS volunteers, Nicola Louise Martin FBCS FWES 🎉 Nicola has been an incredible part of the BCS community, volunteering across six different committees and specialist groups. She currently chairs BCS SIGiST (Special Interest Group in Software Testing) and is also an active member of NeurodiverseIT, working with a passionate team dedicated to making tech more inclusive and welcoming. Her volunteering journey began with the UN Online Volunteering platform, supporting schools and charities with tech-related tasks. Along the way, she’s supported organisations like UN Women UK, Coding Black Females, and now also serves as a Trustee for Friends of The National Archives. What inspires Nicola most is making sure more people feel seen, supported, and included in tech. Volunteering gives her the chance to break down barriers and create spaces where others can connect, grow, and thrive. One of Nicola's proudest moments? Meeting people at events and hearing how even small efforts can make a big difference in someone’s career journey. Nicola would like to give a big shoutout to the amazing BCS SIGiST committee - check out the group and some of its members: BCS SIGiST (Special Interest Group in Software Testing), Mike Harris CITP FBCS, Andrew Shaw MBCS, Paul M., Beth Probert, Steve Dunn MBCS, Alan Giles, Gomathi Ramalingam, James Tyack On behalf of BCS and the wider tech community, we thank you Nicola Martin for your passion and commitment to building a more inclusive tech community. Feeling inspired? Volunteering with BCS is a powerful way to give back, grow your confidence, and help shape a more inclusive future for tech. Find out how you can get involved and make a difference. https://lnkd.in/eFRkwWev #VolunteersWeek 

🎉 Celebrating our incredible TEALS volunteer, Simon Clarke! The TEALS (Technology Education and Learning Support) programme is an initiative that brings tech industry volunteers into classrooms to support and inspire the next generation of digital talent. @SimonClarke has been a shining example of what TEALS is all about. Gorden Neighbour, Careers Leader and Subject Lead for Geology & Computing at Torquay Girls' Grammar School, shares: “It has been excellent to see the students really engage with our volunteer. Simon has been able to bring context into the classroom, especially around the topics of programming and cyber security. Simon has also enabled the school to make connections with other industries through his networks. He doesn’t only provide instruction to students, he also supports with one-to-one support and helping the girls to overcome technical difficulties.” Simon, thank you and all the other TEALS volunteers for your passion, dedication, and for inspiring the next generation of tech talent. #VolunteersWeek #TEALS #BCSVolunteers

📢 The UK Government has today published a letter from the Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, setting out the official priorities for Skills England for 2025-26. This marks an important step in creating a more connected, data-driven and responsive skills system to support economic growth and address skills gaps. BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, looks forward to supporting the work Skills England is taking forward, raising professional standards through digital skills and delivering quality apprenticeship assessment across the UK. The priorities for 2025 - 26 include: 🔹 Using data to identify and address current and future skills needs 🔹 Simplifying access to technical education for learners and employers 🔹 Co-creating agile, employer-led training and qualifications 🔹 Strengthening local and national skills planning to support economic growth We’re proud to play our part in this national mission, working with government, industry and education to equip people for the opportunities of the digital economy. Read the full letter in the comments below ⬇️

We’re proud to celebrate the achievements, dreams and aspirations of our LGBTQIA+ colleagues and friends during #pridemonth. BCS campaigns for more inclusion and diversity in tech, not just this month - but all year. Only with a truly representative tech workforce can we build the future we are all proud of. Our BCS Pride Specialist Group exists to support and uplift LGBTQIA+ professionals working across digital, IT, and tech. The group is hosting a series of events to bring the community together. What's on? 📍 11 June – Networking with Avanade & Pride in London, Represent AI and BCS Pride Join BCS Pride Specialist Group at the Pride London Pop-Up Shop in Soho for an in-person evening of networking and celebration. https://hubs.ly/Q03q74QR0 📍 20 June – @UKBlackPride Community Fundraiser at BCS Moorgate A day of powerful conversation and connection - raising awareness and support for minoritised communities. Event link coming soon! If you're looking to connect with others in tech, amplify LGBTQIA+ voices, and grow your career - learn more: https://hubs.ly/Q03q75nT0 #PrideMonth #DiversityInTech

To kick off Volunteers’ Week, we're delighted to acknowledge the exceptional contribution of Steve Sands CITP FBCS MCIIS, Chair of our Information Security Specialist Group (ISSG). Since joining BCS in 2009, Steve has been a committed and influential volunteer, serving as a committee member, Secretary, and now Chair of the ISSG - our largest Specialist Group, with nearly 3,000 members. His leadership has been instrumental in the group’s continued growth and impact. Steve was awarded Chartered IT Professional status in 2022 and became a BCS Fellow in 2024 - honours that reflect his ongoing dedication to advancing professionalism in cyber and information security. Steve also represents BCS at the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cyber Security Innovation and serves on the BSI standards committee for information security, cybersecurity and privacy protection. Steve extends his sincere thanks to the ISSG committee for their continued support, and in particular: Wendy Goucher and @FoxThomas, Vice Chairs Paul Skinner, Secretary 👏 On behalf of BCS and the wider community, we thank you Steve Sands for your leadership, service, and unwavering commitment to the profession. Inspired by Steve’s journey? Volunteering with BCS is a fantastic way to develop your skills, expand your network, and give back to the profession. Click the link to learn more about how you can get involved - https://hubs.ly/Q03pZ3mg0 #VolunteersWeek #BCS #CyberSecurity #ISSG

Volunteers’ Week is back! 🌟 From Monday 2 June to Sunday 8 June, we're joining the nationwide celebration to recognise the incredible contributions of volunteers across the UK. We want to show our gratitude by celebrating our amazing volunteers who help us drive positive change in the digital world. Keep an eye out next week and join us in celebrating some of the inspiring and dedicated volunteers who give their time to Make IT Good For Society. #VolunteersWeek #BCSVolunteers

From digital transformation to diversity and inclusion – there’s a category for every corner of tech. 🔍 Find your fit in the UK IT Industry Awards: 🔗 https://hubs.ly/Q03lBwM50 @computing #UKITAwards #TechInnovation #DiversityInTech