BCS Launch Rebrand at IITT’s Training 2009 Conference and Exhibition
A packed audience of almost 200 training professionals attended the IITT’s annual conference and exhibition on 23rd and 24th September 2009, which took place at the 4 star Royal Lancaster Hotel in Hyde Park, London.
Starting off with an exhibition on day one, boasting some of the biggest names in IT Training, exhibitors included: Assima, BCS – Chartered Institute for IT (consider removing as it steps across announcement below), Watsonia Publishing, Etc Venues, Pearson VUE, Global Knowledge, CompTIA, FDM Group, iSOFT Group Plc, itSMF Ltd, Howden Insurance Brokers, John Wiley & Sons, Learning Guide Solutions, Toolwire, Happy Computers, Accenture and The Training Room Hire Company.
The well renowned success of this event prompted BCS to select the conference to announce the launch of their corporate re-brand. Now known as ‘BCS - The Chartered Institute for IT’ and accompanied by a brand new logo, a re-designed web site and a new corporate focus. This initiative comes as a result of significant research into the IT professions’ requirements from a professional body.
‘We’re announcing a complete transformation of BCS into The Chartered Institute for IT, and we’re going to change how we present ourselves, focusing on the chartered aspect,’ explained BCS Chief Executive, David Clarke.
The re-brand comes as a way to improve the quality and perception of the IT profession, and the need to refresh the look and feel of the brand, bringing the BCS into a modern, up-to-date look, which includes greater web capability and systems that back up the need to be more web enabled.
This encompasses a new online membership application, new networking opportunities based on the latest Web 2.0 technologies and provision of research material and career support, including a revamped jobs site (BCSrecruitment.com). These new applications hope to bridge a connection between academia and industry.
As for the conference; day 1 commenced with a reception and networking evening, incorporating reception drinks followed by a 3 course networking dinner. The evening was rounded off by our first special guest speaker Dr. Itiel Dror, who gave a fascinating insight into the way the human mind works and processes information. Audience participation kept everyone enthralled and amazed throughout – who can honestly say that they spotted the gorilla?
Day 2 presented the double streamed conference, starting off the day with keynote speaker Bob Mosher, who had flown in from the USA especially to attend this year’s Training 2009 conference. Mosher’s discussion theme was ‘Thriving in Adversity – Doing More with Less’, in which he introduced delegates to the fundamental principles and practices of performance support and how to establish a holistic learning ecosystem, fostering dynamic learning in the workplace. Following Bob Mosher’s keynote, the IITT took the opportunity to present him with the Colin Corder award for services to IT Training, which was awarded to him at the 2006 IT Training awards, where he was unable to attend.
Then followed the streaming sessions. Stream A titled ‘Setting your Direction’ chaired by Alan Bellinger from the IITT saw speakers from Hilton, Xerox, Houses of Parliament and IBM L & D, discussing career progress with the use of Learning & Development. Whilst Stream B, chaired by Vic Wiseman was set to the theme of ‘Technology and Delivery’ and included speakers from Web Based Thinking, Lovells LLP and Cheshire ICT Service, addressing the issue of Learning Technologies and how they can be incorporated to aide learning.
This year’s conference also saw a programme of workshop sessions. Workshop leaders were Julia Emelogu, Genny Dixon (e-Skills UK), Donald Taylor (Non-Executive Director – IITT), and Frank Porter (Chief TPMA Assessor – IITT).
Niall Gavin, Group IT Training Manager, FirstGroup Plc said of the event: “The Annual IITT Trainers' Conference is one of my two major professional development commitments per year, as much for its conviviality as for its content. The venue - The Royal Lancaster Hotel in London - was, in my view, the best yet. The welcome reception/dinner was enhanced by Dr Dror's excellent and concise (a lesson in itself) talk, whilst the conference itself provided several key learning opportunities - Bob Mosher's keynote address was inspirational and Alan Bellinger's 'Demonstrating Value' talk and equation has now become part of my daily dialogue with my own internal customers at work. I’m thoroughly looking forward to next year!”