Policy and influence
We’re constantly working to address the digital challenges facing our society to ensure technology’s impact is positive for everyone.
Our priorities
vITal workers - keeping us connected
Computing and digital services are more valuable than ever as the coronavirus crisis moves our personal and professional lives online. Our campaign, vITal workers, aims to highlight, recognise and praise the incredible contributions being made by IT professionals everywhere during these unprecedented times.
Never has the value of IT in our social and professional life, mental and economic well-being been more relevant. As IT professionals we must play our part in making IT good for society.
- reach the 11 million people who still aren’t online - digital literacy is even more urgent
- protect people from new cyber security threats and children from social media harms
- support teachers and parents to maintain the quality of children’s education at home
- celebrate the amazing IT professionals who do the above and keep us connected
Health and social care
Imagine a healthcare system that’s under significantly less pressure. A system where practitioners have more time to focus on patients; where illnesses are detected earlier; and where people are empowered to take control of their own wellbeing. The health and care sector has begun its digital journey, but it lags far behind other industries.
Help us to:
- support developers to build robust and safe systems for storing patient information
- provide a safe environment in which patients can access their medical information
- ensure data-driven medicine is used for good
- empower healthcare professionals by giving them the chance to develop their digital skills
Education
The UK currently faces a major IT skills deficit and we’re struggling to keep up with the pace of digital change. Education is the power tool we must use to kickstart innovation and sustain our future in the industry.
Help us to:
- engage young people with IT and encourage them to consider a career in the field
- influence education policy so it includes programming, coding and algorithm skills
- revise the curriculum to keep up with digital advancements
- improve the quality of IT education by supporting teachers
AI and ethics
AI has the potential to make our lives easier, healthier and more fulfilled. It also poses threats that we don’t even fully understand yet. As tech companies develop AI machines, we’re contemplating the ethics of their advances.
Help us to:
- influence policy to make sure AI is used for good – not for harm
- set guidelines for how AI should be created to minimise bias
- establish standards to avoid artificial stupidity
- support companies to build safe machines that are secure against outsider attacks
Cyber security
More of our personal information is stored digitally than ever before, opening the doors to closer connections between people, and stronger relationships between organisations and their customers. But this also raises the risk of cyberattack, with more at stake than ever before.
Help us to:
- raise awareness of the risks - for individuals and businesses
- set standards of conduct for cyber security professionals
- support organisations in developing robust strategies to tackle their cyber challenges
- embed security best practice across the industry
Could your opinion shape public policy?
We’re regularly consulted by government and other key bodies on professional, ethical and economic issues affecting the IT industry. From Brexit and data protection to the IoT, unconscious bias and everything in between, you can directly influence and shape policy by taking part in the debate.
Whether you’re a BCS member or not, your contribution is always welcome. If you're interested in knowing more about our policy work, get in touch with our team at policyhub@bcs.uk.
BCS reports
Explore our exclusive research and insight into the IT profession and far-reaching impact of technology.
Diversity report 2020
This 2020 update puts more focus on asking respondents for practical suggestions, what they’ve seen that is good and what works. This report (part 1 of 2) covers the original research from BCS.
Diversity report 2020: ONS analysis
This report (part 2 of 2) features the latest ONS figures on gender, age, ethnicity and disability in the IT industry.
Mental health in IT 2020 report
In this report we focus on the mental health of IT professionals. What is their experience of mental health issues? How does IT as a profession compare with other professions in the incidence of issues?
IT leaders 2020 report
Each year we survey our members and IT leaders, asking their views about the near-term future. This year we found that efficiency, innovation and change are dominating organisations’ minds and these boardrooms.
UK Government's Budget 2020 - BCS briefing notes
The Budget took place against the backdrop of the COVID-19 outbreak and was the first since the UK’s departure from the EU. Here's a summary of the key announcements relevant to BCS and its members.
BCS Insights 2019 research
First introduced at our summer conference, this report series looks at the wide range of social issues affecting our industry, including diversity in IT and the real potential of AI.
Scaling up the ethical AI MSc pipeline
Commissioned by the Office for AI, our independent report examines how we create a substantial and diverse pipeline of ethical AI MSc graduates to bridge the skills gap.
Social mobility in tech report
Our 'Moving on Up: a BCS analysis of social mobility in tech' report outlines the need for digital professionals in the UK so that it can grow and thrive.
Diversity in IT report
In this report, we seek to test this hypothesis with particular focus upon the IT labour market and associated professions.