Gaining BCS Platinum Partnership recognition is more than just a badge; it's a commitment to ethical digital leadership and professional growth. Richard Corbridge FBCS, CIO at SEGRO, reflects after helping a third organisation attain platinum status.
It was brilliant a few days ago to receive confirmation that after nine months effort SEGRO has been made a Platinum Partner of BCS. Gaining this recognition is something that means a great deal to me, and as this is now the third organisation I have achieved this with, I thought it worth doing a little bit of self-refection as to why it matters to me.
Why digital professionals need professional bodies
We have seen the consequences of ethics being ignored play out in our industry several times in recent years, and some of the current ways of working — and possibilities of the future — give me the jitters that the infamous cases of recent times will not be the last.
At a personal level, being part of a chartered organisation like BCS at is something I consider a core value. I believe that as digital professionals we need to be part of something that allows us to confirm our commitment to professionalism and to working in the best interest of society, with a digital future at the heart of what we do. We need the support of an organisation to bring us together to share learning and, indeed, to offer support in times of need.
The value of organisational digital recognition
On the BCS ‘tin’, it says: ‘In meeting the requirements for platinum partnership, the whole organisation demonstrates the highest level of dedication to the mission of delivering talented, ethical and resolute professionals for the benefit of the industry and society.’
But I remember pushing for this while working for Boots and one of my directors simply saying: so what? And it is a good challenge to make. I came up with six reasons.
- Recognition boosts employee engagement: achieving platinum status has given my digital team something to rally around. As an engagement tool it has acted as a set of shared goals that we have been able to build collective benefit from, and which has therefore driven some very specific team building activities that have been about how we work as a team rather than ‘just’ delivery together.
- Recognition lowers turnover: BCS is a new ‘gang’ to be part of and we all like to feel that we belong somewhere. The organisation attaining platinum status has helped the team feel valued not just by colleagues, but by peers across the digital industry. This helps build a feeling of ownership over our place in the organisation, which gives people a reason to stay.
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- Recognition attracts better employees: I know from my time at Boots and DWP that an organisation having a BCS badge was an attraction for new talent. Interestingly, in both cases it was an attraction at both ends of the experience scale; new entrants felt that being associated with BCS would help them grow and those more experienced joiners felt the BCS connection gave them chance to give back. As I look around at SEGRO I believe our unique position as a property firm celebrating digital skills and roles will enable us to attract the best talent, be that permanent roles or partners to work with in the future.
- Recognition helps employees find meaning: the perpetual question, ‘what am I here for?’ needs to be satisfied. Strategy, a north star, and a clear direction of travel all help — and if that can be achieved through recognition of what has gone before and in how we set up for the future, then it can add to the sense of purpose and indeed offer an outlet for activity that satisfies the needs of the team.
- Recognising employees helps managers find meaning: it is easy to miss this one, I think. As leaders or managers, we sometimes struggle to find what our ‘team one’ is. Are we part of the leadership team, our own management team, or are the wider digital team? We need to answer this for ourselves so that we know where we fit and therefore where to grow. I think the type of recognition that BCS Platinum Partnership offers allows us to build our own clarity of thought on our own raison d’etre.
- Recognition reinforces the positive: finally, perhaps the one that resonates the most for me right now. In a world moving so fast we are all struggling to stay on top of what we do, how we do it and who we do it with, the positivity that being part of BCS brings — in particular at an organisational level — breeds a new outlook. Knowing that there are others to lean on and knowing that we can lead the way as a collective is special and for me (and I think my team) is bringing a new outlook on the art of the possible.
It is exciting to get to here. Having delivered platinum status for three organisations now, I am an obvious convert — but it’s not ‘just’ about the recognition. The journey to get there is an inclusive one, and one that forces a team to consider how to be the best they can be as often as they possibly can be.
I cannot recommend this journey enough and would be happy to offer advice to anyone considering building a partnership that offers something to every member of your team and to your wider organisation.
BCS Approved Organisations
To find out more about becoming an approved organisation, visit our memberships and registrations page or email developmyteam@bcs.uk.
