Worshipful Company of Information Technologists
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The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists (WCIT) is the 100th Livery Company of the City of London. The Company was granted Livery status by the Court of Aldermen in 1992 and has over 650 members — all currently or formerly senior practitioners in the IT profession, who have joined the Company in order to give something back to the IT sector and the wider community.
It has its own Hall through the generosity of Dame Steve Shirley, OBE and others.
The Company ranks hundredth in the order of precedence for Livery Companies. The Company's motto is Cito, meaning swiftly. It also incorporates the initials of the Company of Information Technologists.
[edit] Activities
WCIT has a significant charitable and educational programme which uses the expertise, resources and networks of its members, and it is also involved in a range of activities to promote the Information Technology profession.
The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists focuses on three key areas of activity:
- Working with charities: Getting the maximum benefit from IT is now a pre-requisite, not just for commercial organisations but also for the charity sector. WCIT works with a wide range of not for profit organisations with the aim of helping them to gain the maximum benefit from their IT. Members give their time and expertise to provide pro bono IT advice (usually at a strategic level).
- Education: For hundreds of years livery companies have supported schools in London and across the country. Currently WCIT has a partnership with Lilian Baylis Technology School in the London Borough of Lambeth. Previous projects include HOLNET (the History Of London on the interNET), which is now incorporated into the London Grid for Learning.
- IT profession: With members coming from all sectors of the ICT field, WCIT can provide a neutral meeting ground for discussion of issues that are central to both the profession and the City of London. WCIT also runs a Journeyman Scheme which supports young IT professionals in the early stages of their career.
The company is probably unique amongst Livery Companies in having an Ethical and Spiritual Development Panel which considers such topics as the Ethical and Spiritual Implications of the Internet - running colloquia on that topic in the House of Lords as far back as 1997.
