Press / 2003 / 28th November
New InfoBasis partnership enhances British Computer Society professional development services
The British Computer Society (BCS) today signed a strategic partnership agreement with InfoBasis Limited, a leading provider of skills management business solutions. Under the agreement, the BCS will provide a suite of professional development services based on a new skills framework combining the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA) and the Industry Structure Model (ISM). The solution will use the InfoBasis Enterprise Skills Infrastructure (ESI) technology platform.
InfoBasis ESI will enable the BCS to extend and web-enable its current range of career and professional development services, and to offer completely new services. These will include tools for individual IT practitioners and corporate clients to identify skills gaps and ways of bridging them. By providing this service, the BCS aims to further the value it adds to the British IT professional community, and to encourage continuing professional development among IT practitioners. The services will be open both to BCS members and non-members.
“In the past it was enough for IT practitioners to keep abreast of technical developments,” said BCS Professional Director Malcolm Sillars. “Now, however, not only do they have to keep their technical skills up-to-date, employers are demanding they prove it. In addition, they are being asked to develop related skills, in areas such as project management. This new suite of services will enable IT practitioners to demonstrate where their skills are strong, maintain professional experience records and identify areas where they can develop their careers further. With this valuable data, organisations will benefit from effective project resourcing, readiness analysis and greater staff satisfaction.”
The contract to provide the services was awarded after an open, competitive tender. For InfoBasis CEO Ashley Wheaton, being selected enables InfoBasis to pursue one of its core values. “We are committed to the growth of IT skills in the UK, and are delighted to be working with the BCS on this project. We have already helped create great business benefit with our current clients in the IT sector and believe that through this partnership with the BCS, valuable professional development tools will be provided to a much wider population.”
For further press information:
Donald Taylor
Tel: +44 (0) 1235 540 140
Fax: +44 (0) 1235 534 869
Email: donaldt@infobasis.com
For sales enquiries:
John Cooke
Tel: +44 (0)1235 540 140
Fax: +44 (0) 1235 534 869
Email: johnc@infobasis.com
