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

As the professional body for IT, BCS is dedicated to ensuring that technology has a positive impact on everyone. With approximately 70,000 members, BCS unites IT practitioners, academics, industry representatives, and advocacy groups to share knowledge and influence government policy.

This collective effort aims to inform society and address the digital challenges our society faces, while also enabling us to benefit from tech’s groundbreaking innovations. Our three key themes are:

Anyone with a significant role in information technology should demonstrate their accountability by being professionally registered. In practice this means being chartered.
Every child and adult deserves access to a world-class computing and digital literacy education.
Closing the gender gap in information technology can help solve many issues related to trust, bias, and safety.

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.

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:

The National Engineering Policy Centre, hosted by the Royal Academy of Engineering
The UK Cyber Security Council, which is the self-regulatory body for the UK's cyber security profession
The Alliance for Data Science Professionals, which is an alliance of the Royal Statistical Society, BCS, the Institute for Mathematics and its Applications, the Operational Research Society, the National Physical Laboratory, and the Alan Turing Institute, which is supported by the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society
The Data Skills Taskforce, hosted by the Alan Turing Institute, which is a forum for many organisations working to support DCMS to address the UK’s data skills challenge
The Federation for Informatics Professions (FEDIP), is the only public register for all informatics professionals in the UK dedicated to delivering better health and care through the advanced use of technology.
Council of European Professional Informatics Societies (CEPIS) Diverse IT Charter - BCS is one of the founding members of the DiversIT charter, a CEPIS flagship initiative, aimed at reducing gender disparity in IT roles