Panels and Committees

The Information Technologists' Company focuses on three key areas: 

Charities, Education and Industry.

IT Accessibility Panel

The vision of the panel is a future in which Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is accessible to and usable by everyone, thereby supporting the inclusion of and equality of opportunity for disabled people in society and the economy

We work with partners in the IT Livery Company and externally to:

• Promote accessible ICT for social and economic inclusion for all
• Campaign for removal of barriers to accessible IT for all
• Encourage greater professionalism in the design, assessment and support of accessible ICT

For 2011 the Panel is focusing on three key projects:

• Working with other panels and the CIOs of LOCOG, Transport for London and the London tourist authorities to plan a series of events to raise awareness of the importance of IT accessibility (for information, services etc) for disabled visitors to London for the Olympics and Para-Olympics and to promote London as an IT accessible City.
• Working with the Education Committee and the Hammersmith Academy Governors to facilitate the most accessible IT systems for the Academy and to promote innovation in the use of IT for inclusive learning.
• Working with the Entrepreneurs panel with whom are have developed a policy on essential disability etiquette and disability awareness training for mentors and others working with disabled people.

Arts Panel

The Arts Panel works to help arts organisations make effective use of IT in the arts to connect with their audiences, deliver artistic content and run an efficient and sustainable organisation. It does this by providing pro bono project help on request and by running quarterly IT4Arts workshops attended by many of the most famous arts organisations in the country.

Charitable Development Committee

One of the main reasons for joining a Livery Company is "to give something back". This is usually expected to be in the form of time and money. The CDC's objectives are to raise money to support and fund the Company's charitable activities.
Currently the CDC's main focus is to raise the £1million for the Charity to meet its committment to fund an Endowment for the Hammersmith Academy. When this is completed, which is expected to be around the time that the Academy opens in Sept 2011, the CDC's focus will change to encouraging all members to donate regularly as part of a CCG (Continuous Charitable Giving) programme and also to encourage members to remember the Charity with a legacy in their will, in the tradition of Livery Companies going back many centuries.

Charity Events Panel

This panel plans and organises events to raise funds for selected charities.

Communications and PR Committee

The Communications and Public Relations Group are responsible for overseeing internal and external communications for the Company.

Education and Training Committee

In the education & training sector, the ITC's education & training committee aims to improve the lives of learners by injecting positive change into UK learning and assisting educational establishments - by the application of our ICT skills and our managerial and entrepreneurial experience. For further information see this link: Education

Employment Panel

The Employment Panel provides support and assistance to ITC members, Royal Signals personnel, and school leavers from the Lillian Bayliss Technology School and the Hammersmith Academy who are in need of employment advice, guidance or direction.  The panel offers a coaching service from a number of experienced Recruitment & HR Industry Professionals who know how to take advantage of today's job climate.  In addition the Panel organises a number of events where members and guests are invited to attend to hear speakers on a diverse range of subjects, such as Non-Executive Directorships, Social Media and Employment, and Personal suitability for different roles.  The panel is open to any member of the Company who wishes to become fully involved.

Entrepreneurship Panel

The Entrepreneurship Panel has the objective of mobilising the Company's resources to assist early stage IT companies. For our members this is envisaged to be mainly through:

• Education/awareness of what is involved in helping early stage companies
• Encouraging our members to become Angels, Non Executive Directors (NEDs), Coaches or Mentors
• Communication between existing & potential Angels and/or NEDs and early stage companies
• Experience sharing

Ethical and Spiritual Development Panel

The Ethical and Spiritual Development Panel was set up with the aim 'to encourage the development of the ethical and spiritual dimensions of daily life in the IT - related industries'. The Panel's multi-faith activities address a wide range of ethical and spiritual issues which are relevant to IT businesses, their customers and employees.

Gala Dinner Panel

The Gala Dinner Panel organises an annual Charity Dinner for WCIT members and their guests generally towards the end of the calendar year. The objective (other than to enjoy ourselves) is to raise funds towards a chosen WCIT charity. For 2011 (and 2010) this was the Hammersmith Academy but this can change year-to-year. The dinner features:

• A three course, black tie dinner at a prestigious location (usually a Livery Hall).
• An Auction featuring “not for sale in the shops” prizes eg opening Tower Bridge or lunch at the Old Bailey.
• Entertainment, including a singer, magician and usually dancing.
• Ticket prices kept below £100.

Government Panel

The Government Panel was established in December 2008 to act as the focal point for the Company’s interactions with central and local government and the wider public sector (except where these are more appropriately let by another committee or panel, e.g. in the education and health sectors) and to advise other Company committees, panels and members on the best ways of contacting, influencing and doing business with government. It has over 40 members including politicians, civil servants and suppliers to government, but is also open to members who simply have an interest in this area.

Industry Committee

The Industry Committee contributes to the advancement of the information and communications technology industry and profession by:

• Encouraging best practice
• Facilitating sharing of knowledge and experience
• Promoting understanding of information and communications technology
• Supporting the development of young professionals in the early stages of their careers through our Journeyman scheme.

• Briefings from industry experts and thought leaders
• "Big issue"debates on themes of importance to the industry and community
• Special interest groups covering topical issues.

Journeyman Scheme

The Journeyman Scheme, chaired by Roger Dimmock, is an example of where the traditions of the Livery Companies and the practice of Information Technology are combined to build on each other towards a worthwhile aim.

The ITC Journeyman Scheme was set up to assist potential leading IT practitioners to develop their career after their initial education. The usual period of the "journey" is 3 years, during which time the Journeyman is guided by a Journey Mentor from ITC and, where possible, one from their company too. At the end of the Journey, the Journeyman is expected to apply to join the Company as a Freeman.

The Journeyman Scheme is intended for young, qualified IT professionals, who have the potential to become leading IT practitioners. Typically they will be between the ages of 23 and 35, although this will depend on when their IT career started. Journeymen will be mature, qualified individuals who are capable of taking responsibility for their own careers.

Law Panel

The ICT Law Panel seeks to educate and inform Company members and external businesses on legal issues concerning ICT, particularly in the spheres of information technology, intellectual property, e-Commerce and the Internet. It also seeks to promote student opportunities in collaboration with Higher Education Institutions offering law programmes through work placements and an inter-University ICT specialist moot competition.

Medicine and Health Panel

This panel was set up to promote "Effective IT in Medicine." It has a broad membership with external and internal interests in the areas of healthcare and healthcare management.

Recreation and Leisure Panel

The role of Recreation and Leisure panel is to use our personal City network connections and expertise to promote the use of IT in the voluntary sector.

The Panel has developed particular expertise in working with the charitable sector, to ensure that clear benefits (based on repeatable processes and lessons) are gained from the involvement of the ITC and the use of IT in relation to Projects. The panel also collaborates with other charitable IT centres of excellence.

By "Projects", we mean IT system design or implementation that benefits an identifiable charitable group. These will ideally demonstrate an innovative use of IT, with the potential for wider application in the group. The projects will be self-sustaining beyond the timeframe of the Panel or ITC's involvement. The panel strives to find projects that will have a clear beneficial outcome for the charities, making a real difference to what they can provide or how they work.

Security Panel

The objective of the Security Panel is to promote “the City of London” (and the UK Financial Services sector which it supports and promotes) as “the best place to go on-line”: not only the safest and most secure, but also the best at taking remedial action when things do go wrong. The role of the panel includes providing a neutral venue for discussing active co-operation action against abuse, not just awareness, prevention and protection..

Technology Panel

Looking at how the Company uses information and communication technology to interact with both its members and internally in the most effective way.

Visits and Activities Panel

Involved in organising social events for the Membership and their families.