The sub-branch was affiliated to the Hampshire branch of the BCS. At the time of the launch there was a local BCS membership of about 56 representing about 10% of the Island’s IT professionals.

The July 2003 edition of Computer Bulletin reported the following quote from Brett Sumner (an IT manager at financial services group HSBC who was subsequently elected as the first Jersey sub-branch Chairman) in advance of the launch.

Assistance in addressing some of the many issues associated with providing first rate information systems support and development on the islands requires collaboration between all the interested parties. There is an opportunity to do this under the formal umbrella of the BCS.

The formation of the sub-branches in Jersey and Guernsey was particularly timely, because both islands had become established world-class financial centres. Jersey boasts over 50 international banks and more than 30,000 registered companies with total deposits exceeding 155bn.

On 1 May 2004 the BCS approved a change of status for the Jersey sub-branch which from that date became an overseas section of the BCS operating under the name BCS Jersey.

Affiliation

BCS Jersey is an overseas section of BCS and has no affiliation to BCS UK branches, although the nearest UK branch of BCS is the Hampshire branch. There is also an international section of BCS in Guernsey.