Policy and influence

BCS policy seeks to uphold the highest ethical standards and practices in a rapidly changing digital landscape. We are an influential voice in the tech sector, listened to by government, industry, and the wider society.

Our priorities

We are constantly working to address the digital challenges facing our society to ensure technology’s impact is positive for everyone.

As BCS emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic we have identified four key themes that we as the professional body for IT need to focus on to ensure we are making IT good for society.

The BCS President is working with the BCS policy team to streamline activity under four themes and campaign goals agreed and signed off by the BCS Trustee Board and Council which are:

  • Our digital lives should be in the hands of competent, ethical, and accountable professionals.
  • Greater diversity and inclusion in the IT profession benefit society.
  • The digital divide is a modern measure of inequality; it can be closed by access to skills as well as technology.
  • The world will achieve net zero more rapidly with support of digital and data technologies.

Artificial intelligence (AI)

BCS wants to see the creation of a diverse ethical AI workforce, as we believe this is central to reducing machine learning bias. 

 

Cyber security

As the professional body for information technology we are committed to making the digital world secure for everyone.

Digital divide

The digital divide is a complex issue of access to technology, the internet, and skills, limiting the life chances of people across our communities.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Equality, diversity, and inclusion as standard; that’s a shared common goal for our industry.

Education

We support the teaching of rigorous and relevant computer science across the academic spectrum, from primary schools to universities.

Green IT and net zero

As the professional body for the IT industry, BCS is committed to playing its part in tackling the climate emergency.

Health and care

Digital health is undergoing rapid change. BCS is committed to supporting the establishment of regulated professional standards in this sector.

Tech and society

From cyber security, through to online safety, technology affects us all. BCS policy looks at the wider uses of technology.

Consultations/research

View consultations and research around our priority topics - from artificial intelligence and cyber security, to green IT and health.

Supporting Ukraine

BCS is about making IT good for society. That means offering practical help by opening our networks, expertise, and facilities to all technologists from Ukraine at this time.

We also want to go further. Membership of our community and the support that comes with it (at no cost) is now open to any IT professional displaced or affected by international conflict.

Read more about our commitments and how to get involved

Discover BCS membership

You’ll be joining a thriving community of IT professionals and benefits include access to regular events, conferences, meetings, as well the chance to join our members groups.

Become a member

Partner with us

We regular partner with other organisations, seeking their views and expertise. Email the policy team directly: policyhub@bcs.uk or contact us. 

Key policy stakeholders we work with:

As the professional body for information technology, we have partnerships and associations with other organisations and bodies across the sector. 

BCS is an active member of: