The South West Regional ICT Strategy and Flexible Working Fabian King Head of Regional ICT 25 th April 2007

2 The Regional ICT Strategy Objectives  Improve regional productivity, competitiveness and inclusion  Communicate the evidence base regarding the economic, social and environmental impacts of ICT  Lead and manage through partnership

3 Infrastructure Support Market Development Regional Research Technology Tracking Use Areas of focus for regional ICT

4 What are these areas of focus? Infrastructure  Copper wire  ADSL  Cable  Radio  Fibre Optics  21CN  Convergence  Triple play ……… Use  Take up  People  Communities  Business  Schools/learning  Health  Applications  Social networks ………. Support  ISP advice  Business Links  ICT Hubs  Online diagnostics  Peer groups  Research  Ofcom / DTI  IT Advisors ………

5 Some ICT priorities today Infrastructure - next generation networks ICT support - supply side, business support, skills and comprehension of ICT utilities Broadband content - including completely new concepts in application of knowledge management Flexible working - work is something you do, instead of a location you travel to Collaborative working - new modus operandi, modified value chains, new market opportunities Building the SW Knowledge Economy...

6 Flexible Working  Creating economic, social and environmental impacts through rethinking what work means.  How technology can support cultural change that affects use of premises, transport patterns, employee rights, management practices and, foremost, that liberates working and learning practices.

7 RSS Consultation Events – Dec ICT “can bring about some changes to travel and work patterns … it may impact … shopping and the high street” Page 17 “… strong backing for ICT, broadband and developing knowledge based technology where distance is less of a problem.” Page 23 “… a sustainable economy depends upon … Invest in ICT.” Page 29 “ Promote social and work changes that give more flexibility in travel. Develop ICT infrastructure.” Page 32

8 Draft RSS… Accessibility to Broadband and future information communication technologies will continue to play an important part in helping to reduce issues of remoteness for rural firms and businesses New buildings should have future-proof Broadband connectivity as standard in these locations in particular. In order to reduce the need to travel, it will also be important for new homes to be built with live/work space to enable home working.”

9 Is South West England e-ready?  70% of households have a PC  62% have an internet connection (over 55% of these via broadband)  38% have satellite or cable  75% have a mobile phone  97% have telephone landline  Slightly behind rest of UK in all categories apart from landline. –Ofcom: The Communications Market: Nations and Regions - April 2006

10 Communications versus Transport Within 5 yrs, flexible working could cut commuter traffic by up to 10% Within 10 yrs, flexible working could achieve: 15% cut in commuter traffic 5% reduction in business travel 10% reduction in car travel (Source:~ Edmund King, Executive Director, RAC Foundation of motoring, 2006)

11 Response Time to Innovative Products DK NO SE FI IE BE CH NL AT DE IT ES FR UK EL PT Source: Innovation Scoreboard, Cordis 2003 Figure shows average time between product introduction on the national market and sales take off Years

12 What does it take to introduce Flexible Working? Cost of premises doesn’t make Flexible Working work. Great care needed to change people’s attitudes & values. Leadership – led from the top not by IT Legislation – including H&S, tax & rights to work flexibly Management must revise staff evaluation Management must revise requirements for work Training and cultural change management needed Ability to make the move … do we have it?

13 Thank you - any questions?

14 Work Wise Week 2007  Follows upon success of last year’s Workwise Week  Wednesday 16 th May to Tuesday 22 nd May  Commences with WorkWiseUK Summit at QE2 Centre, London  Includes a National “Work from Home” day (Friday 18 th May)  Each Day of the week (after 16 th May) will have a particular focus –Environment –Transport –Staff welfare –Business productivity

15 Regional Economic Strategy highlights ~ Infrastructure 1 Complete initial (500 kbps+) broadband coverage across the region (p34) 2 Develop and deliver the regional ICT strategy to … ensure that the modernisation of rural delivery is supported by ICT (p34) 3 Develop and deliver the regional ICT strategy to … encourage the use of ICT initiatives to support the regeneration of deprived areas (p34) 4 Improve accessibility to services and markets for the most disadvantaged areas through ICT solutions (p45) 5 Ensure that the region’s broadband infrastructure continues to develop in line with international benchmarks for bandwidth (p35)

16 Regional Economic Strategy highlights ~ Use 1. Develop the ConnectingSW programme to support SME use of broadband (p34) 2. Develop and deliver the regional ICT strategy to … deliver a broadband content programme for key sectors(p34) 3. Develop and deliver the regional ICT strategy to … promote improvements in e-government procurement (p34) 4. Identify opportunities for the region to support, and benefit from, national initiatives and pilots to support the roll out and use of ICT (p35) 5. Develop demonstrator projects to show the potential of digital technology & applications (p35)

17 Regional Economic Strategy highlights ~ Support 1 Increase take-up and use of broadband to support international trade (p27) 2 Deliver regional ICT research programme to understand impact of future technologies on business development and economic inclusion (p 34) 3 Develop and deliver the regional ICT strategy to … promote importance of ICT skills and the use of e-learning (p34) 4 Deliver improved levels of ICT skills in the workforce (p23)

18 The E-Adoption Ladder Source: Martin and Matlay (2001) adapted from Cisco- led Information Age Partnership Level of Organisational Change and Sophistication 5. transformed organisations 4. e-business 3. e-commerce 2. website 1. Business Benefits Open systems information for customers, suppliers and partners New business models based on interworking between organisations and individuals Integrate supply chain so manufacture and delivery become seamless Minimise waste at every stage of the supply chain Order and pay online, reducing costs Maximise accessibility and speed Place in global market Window on worldwide suppliers Efficient internal and external communications