In the first of a new eight-part series, Computer Weekly brings
you the finalists in each category of the British Computer Society
IT Professional Awards
The past few years have been particularly bruising for the IT
industry. The dotcom bubble burst and the global economy
nose-dived, prompting most organisations to scale back IT
spending.
Some commentators are questioning the value of investment in
technology and there is a long-running debate on how IT departments
should align themselves with the needs of the business.
As a result, IT decision-makers often find they have to defend
their spending and justify every penny of their budgets more
rigorously than ever before.
Computer Weekly believes it is increasingly important for the UK IT
profession to trumpet its achievements. Whether in the public or
private sector, IT departments are integral to the success of UK
companies.
The British Computer Society IT professional awards, regarded as
the Oscars of the IT industry, have been celebrating excellence in
IT for 30 years through economic peaks and troughs.
Computer Weekly is proud to support this year's BCS awards, which
take place at a glittering London ceremony. The winners of each
category will be announced and their awards will be presented
before an audience of more than 700 IT professionals and other VIP
guests on Wednesday 24 September at the Hilton Park Lane Hotel in
London.
This year's awards have been revamped to showcase the best in UK IT
and, over the next two months, Computer Weekly's management section
will count down to the awards and outline the shortlisted
entries.
The judges have been drawn from representatives of the BCS award
sponsors, industry, the business press and other practitioners of
equivalent status with extensive experience relevant to the
category.
This year, for the first time, the BCS has added a range of
individual award categories that recognise the exemplary
performance of individuals in diverse roles in the IT
profession.
There are 19 categories, divided into business achievement,
technology and individual awards. Individual awards categories
include young ITpractitioner of the year and IT developer of the
year.
The technology category is split into four areas: applications,
services, systems and social contributions, although there will be
one overall winner. Business achievements will be split into
industry sectors, also with one overall winner.
One of the most high-profile of the new individual award categories
is the IT Director of the Year award. This award recognises
outstanding achievement in a senior IT management role reporting to
the board.
As well as the need to demonstrate a deep understanding of IT
issues, judges will be looking for excellent people-management
skills, commitment to training and development, planning ability,
financial acumen and a contribution to strategy and the general
management of the organisation.
"All the finalists excel in their ability to understand the needs
of the business and can communicate how IT can address these needs
at board level," said David Rippon, chairman of the judging panel.
"Their achievements show how directors are embracing the business
dimension of their role."
Jonathan Cummings, director of e-business at the Institute of
Directors, said, "The need to further highlight excellence in
professional standards is key to enabling UK business to grow and
develop."
"Sustainability relies on three core factors: people, processes and
technology. The IT director is a vital part of most organisations
and plays a fundamental role in implementing strategies that enable
all three to work together successfully."
For more information about the awards, contact Nisha Mukhey
020-7234 8711
Nisha.Mukhey@quest-media.com
www.bcs.org/awards/professional/
About the BCS IT Professional Awards
For more than 30 years the BCS has recognised outstanding
achievement in UK IT through its IT Awards and its separate
Management Awards programme, established in the early 1990s.
This year the two sets of awards have been brought together to
form the IT Professional Awards, which are supported by Computer
Weekly. The BCS plans to make its awards the definitive awards for
IT.
The intention is to create a single, high-profile event to
reflect and celebrate the nation's IT industry as a leading global
player.
"The BCS IT Awards for Excellence and Innovation and the
equally important BCS Management Awards recognise the respective
roles of ingenuity and managerial skills in enhancing IT to
increase business efficiency and improve customer service," said
BCS chief executive David Clarke.
"The BCS has decided to bring these two significant events
together in a single annual ceremony. This, I believe, will
generate even greater recognition of UK IT achievement.
"The BCS IT Professional Awards will underline one of the BCS'
key roles, which is to nurture and applaud the individual ingenuity
and entrepreneurial success that have made the nation's IT industry
a leading global player.
"They will also mark the vital contribution made by the IT
profession to the economy and to business and public services.
"These awards have established an unrivalled reputation for
integrity, thoroughness of judging processes and high standards. To
win a BCS award has always been regarded as a pinnacle of
achievement."
Finalists for IT director of the year
John White, Royal Bank of Scotland Following
the acquisition of NatWest Bank by the Royal Bank of Scotland,
finalist John White, director of group technology at Royal Bank of
Scotland Group, led a 3,000-strong workforce to successfully
deliver the IT integration of the two banks ahead of target and
with enhanced annual savings.
Karl North, Hilton UK & Ireland Karl
North, director of IT at hotel group Hilton UK & Ireland, was
instrumental in delivering a £6m Oracle financial system on time
and within budget and also achieved more than £2m of savings
through supplier rationalisation and contract renegotiation.
Alongside results, he focuses on improving the perception of IT and
ensuring the business sees IT as "adding value, not cost".
David Ebbitt, PremierLine Direct The
experience of David Ebbitt from Premier Line Direct illustrates how
IT directors are taking a key role in shaping new business.
Launched last year as the first direct insurer for UK small
businesses, the successful development and implementation of
effective IT systems was critical to PremierLine Direct, which has
already attracted 8,500 customers.
Keith Nicholson, MacRoberts Solicitors Keith
Nicholson, formerly of MacRoberts Solicitors and now an independent
consultant, developed and implemented strategic IT initiatives with
robust information security to the BS7799 standard, giving the firm
new online services and a competitive advantage in the
sector.
The awards
ComputerWeekly will feature finalists from the following
awards:
Young IT Practitioner of the Year, sponsored by Brodeur
Worldwide
IT Trainer of the Year
IT Consultant of the Year
Quality Manager of the Year, sponsored by Mercury
Interactive
Business Analyst of the Year
IT Developer of the Year - Applications, sponsored by
the DTI
IT Developer of the Year - Infrastructure, sponsored by
Intersystems
Marval IT Service Manager of the Year
Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Syntegra.