positive impact Partnerships with Business 1

Partnerships with Business Business in the Community comm.unity and the New Renaissance Engaging business in partnerships Issues and Concerns Set up by businesses concerned about competitiveness and social exclusion in the ‘Digital Age’ BT EDS Experian The POST OFFICE Lorien BBC KPMG DTI Philips Hill and Knowlton ICL Oracle challenges business to get involved (especially companies who use IT who doesn’t or won’t be?) to build capacity and develop partnerships

Business in the Community A unique movement of companies across the UK committed to continually improving their positive impact on society 2

Business in the Community National Charity 650 Members 75 of the top 100 FTSE Index 12 Regional Offices, 250 employees Thematic Campaigns A/C Management Seeing is Believing Business Excellence Awards

comm.unity (pronounced comm-dot-unity) inspires and engages business in supporting the community’s use of information and communication technologies Set up by businesses concerned about competitiveness and social exclusion in the ‘Digital Age’ BT EDS Experian The POST OFFICE Lorien BBC KPMG DTI Philips Hill and Knowlton ICL Oracle challenges business to get involved (especially companies who use IT who doesn’t or won’t be?) to build capacity and develop partnerships

A new renaissance? in work in education in communicating information in entertainment in community in business Types of work and organisations Virtual Teams, distance working Network organisations Rapid changes and uncertainty, need to continually learn and develop. Use technology. Link public services and government to the public. Use it for consultation and participation, digital democracy pastimes? Ecommerce mainly business to business but need customers for ICT products and relevant uses that people develop for themselves

comm.unity aims to: Inspire and mobilise business knowledge and resources Build the capacity of the voluntary and community sectors through technology Develop partnerships for regeneration and inclusion ………?

Why Business gets involved. 71% of the general public agreed that industry and commerce do not pay enough attention to their social responsibilities 28% chose or boycotted a product/service because of a company’s ethical reputation Source: MORI, 1998

Why Business gets involved. Profile and Reputation Belief and Purpose Skills Gap/ Digital Divide Developing markets Business Excellence Networking

the skills gap 51% of companies slowing down the adoption of technology 48% of companies delaying projects 15% cancelling projects ATSCO, November 1999 340,000 extra people, 1997-2006 IER Association of Technology Staffing Companies, November 1999 Education IER-Institute of Employment Research, University Of Warwick Alan Stevens, former CEO EDS ….nearly one million already employed in skilled Information Technology, Communications and Electronics occupations Equal Opps in 1998 of 872,000 people employed only 33% were female total shortage of skills could be 12% of demand by 2002 SMEs ICT relevant for ALL business Environment IT and Sustainability current study reporting at our conference in November

the digital divide 72.5% have not yet used the Internet Internet take up is lower in poorer communities up to 50% do not have access to a telephone at home The Government expects its services to be accessed by 100% of the population via technology by 2004 Low levels of access Lack of confidence or awareness Need higher levels of skills Increased polarisation in society low skilled jobs decline and not replaced some overworked, other underworked and implications for work/life balance disconnected communities destabalised PAT 15 report DfEE Capital Modernisation ICT Learning Centres

Initiatives Events to Inspire Awards TheDOT Partnerships Bespoke Projects Mainstream initiatives Managing Matching Set up by businesses concerned about competitiveness and social exclusion in the ‘Digital Age’ BT EDS Experian The POST OFFICE Lorien BBC KPMG DTI Philips Hill and Knowlton ICL Oracle challenges business to get involved (especially companies who use IT who doesn’t or won’t be?) to build capacity and develop partnerships

Building Partnerships Access Learning Content Integration power people premises profit product For use during discussion if appropriate

Engaging Business Support to the voluntary sector (TheDOT) Sponsorship Strategic Advice Technology Action Plans Web Development Implementation Continuing Support Evaluation Sponsorship Employee volunteers Learning Centres

Engaging Business Use BitC or similar sell the benefits to business, employee and community develop new skills raise their awareness less philanthropy avoid obvious pitfalls Less about money more about long term sustainable relations make it straightforward reduce misunderstanding clear needs and objectives

Positive Impact Telecentres Training Programme Access awareness Business Development Mentoring Equipment management advice and support Access awareness confidence skills content creation active participation community access and awareness

Issues and Concerns Costs and Benefits powerful politics complex needs require partners control, accountability, parachuting grants, passive and active partnerships top down - bottom up risk avoidance

positive impact www.comm.unity.uk.net www.business-impact.org www.bitc.org.uk 1