One way to advance your career in IT consulting is to join a trade association and enjoy the advantages of networking with other IT professionals and sharing best practice with top experts in the field.
Find out more about these industry bodies and see how they can benefit your consulting career!
The British Computer Society (BCS) is the largest British industry body for computing and the information and communications technology sector. Celebrating 50 years of representing the IT industry, in 2007 the BCS' membership exceeded 60,000 computing professionals in more than 100 countries, including about 40 branches in the UK, 15 international sections and around 50 specialist groups.
Under the royal patronage of the Duke of Kent, the BCS is the only British IT industry body that can award CITP (Chartered IT Professional) status to its members who meet the CITP standards. The BCS has also recently launched a new initiative called “Professionalism in IT programme” with the goal to both increase professionalism in the field and change the way the entire information technology profession is perceived. The initiative aims to make sure that companies understand the necessity of turning IT into an integral part of every business' infrastructure rather than just leaving it as an outsourced service. Educating and training new generations of IT professionals and BCS members to carry out this and similar initiatives is yet another ongoing task that the Society is constantly involved in.
The British Computer Society awards computing experts with the certification for Chartered IT Professionals (CITP). The experience required for one to qualify for the CITP amounts to ten years on average, but this may be cut by as many as five years for professionals who earned an honours degree in an IT subject. The top professional grade awarded by the BCS is Fellow of the British Computer Society (FBCS). It is only given to individuals with no fewer than five years of experience in a senior position in IT or, exceptionally, to outstanding individuals who have built a strong reputation as authorities in the IT field.
BCS members benefit from joining the Society in more ways than one. Membership meetings give them fantastic networking opportunities and make sure that they stay in touch with the latest trends in the IT and communications industry.
The members of the UK branches meet regularly and discuss a series of topics related to IT, making their voice count with local committees and giving them a chance to grow professionally and build new professional networks. They are welcome to use BCS member logos on their stationery, CV and in any kind of written communication, to emphasize their status as BCS members.
