The BCS is claiming to have won the mandate to act as the
champion of the IT profession after a study found it had far
greater recognition among IT specialists than any other industry
body.
A study of the impact of the restructuring the society underwent
last May, and a subsequent membership recruitment campaign, found
that 30% of IT specialists mentioned the society when asked to name
an IT professional body. No other organisation got more than a 2%
spontaneous mention.
In addition, 62% picked out the BCS when presented with a list of
industry bodies.
BCS chief executive David Clarke said, "When we launched our
strategic plan last May, our awareness target was 67% by April
2008. This study shows how successful we have been in just eight
months. Membership is growing at over 1,000 a month and is now 20%
up on last year, at nearly 45,000.
"This survey also shows that half of IT professionals now recognise
the BCS as holding a key responsibility for setting and promoting
professional standards, and a similar number recognise our role in
developing professionalism and industry qualifications.
"All this is very important for us. It means the BCS has
established a clear mandate to champion the IT profession as the
profession of the 21st century."
This latest BCS study follows research reported last month which
found that the revamped BCS structure was attracting younger IT
specialists to get professional qualifications. The average age of
new membership applicants has fallen from 37 to 29, and the average
for entrants to the professional member grade has dropped from 40
to 33.
At the senior end of the profession, BCS IT directors' group Elite
has more than trebled its membership to 1,270 in recent
months.
The BCS' growing impact was underlined by its patron, the Duke of
Kent, when he opened the society's new London offices last
month.
"I am pleased to note how the BCS, in accordance with its royal
charter, is playing a key role in raising professional standards
and establishing the IT agenda for the nation," he said.
"I am also pleased to see how the society has transformed itself to
become an all-embracing representative body for Britain's IT
professionals, as well as having an impact on the education and
work skills of the country."
The BCS has qualifications, career development programmes and
services for IT professionals at all levels, plus end-user computer
skills qualifications for the public. It also works with young
people through school-based activities and its sponsorship of the
Scouts Association's IT activity badge.