Cardiff University hosts launch event for brand new BCS Wales Hub

The first BCS Hub was officially launched in Abacws and hopes to boost the IT sector across Wales.

The first of its kind, the BCS Wales Hub is a strategic group that will work collaboratively as a committee to share expertise and insight to understand and address challenges which limit the IT profession from delivering social and economic benefit in Wales.

Launched in Abacws, the BCS Wales Hub is the first of several such hubs planned to be launched across the UK to deepen understanding of the social, economic and skills based challenges unique to different geographic regions.

Wales was chosen as the seat of the first BCS Hub because through its member groups, BCS has been active in the country since its earliest days, with the BCS being founded in 1957, and the BCS Cardiff branch (which is now the BCS South Wales branch) being created a year later in 1958.

A key focus for the BCS Wales Hub will be fostering close collaboration between industry and academia, and it is hoped that going forward it will help Cardiff and other universities within Wales to forge closer relationships with industry.

Senior Lecturer in Cyber Security, Elaine Haigh, said: “It was a real privilege to host the BCS Wales Hub Launch event with BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT in Abacws. The event saw contributions from a diverse range of digital industry and academia, concluding with a really vibrant networking session.

“Although the BCS have had a local branch in south Wales since 1958, this gathering felt like a pretty inspirational start of something potentially quite new and exciting. I look forward to seeing where this goes.”

Speaking at the launch, BCS President, Alastair Revell, said: “For us here, tonight, this is a huge opportunity. It’s an opportunity for us to come together over the coming months, and potentially years, to make a huge step-change in how we tackle the big issues facing the tech profession here in Wales.”

He added: “The BCS Wales Hub will serve as a model for us to use across the country as we roll the concept out’, he said. ‘But it's all starting here. The important thing about tonight is coming together to collaborate — and to collaborate for the public benefit.”

BCS Managing Director — Institute, Holly Porter said: “The BCS Wales Hub is all about collaboration and collaborating around some important aims and objectives. Helping people to access a rewarding career. Supporting and creating a culture of ethical and competent professionals and exchanging knowledge between industry and academia.”