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Thursday 17th May 2012

Membership Categories
Expectations of Members
Benefits of Membership
How to Become a Member
Reasons to Become a Member
Journeyman Scheme

Who we are
The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists (WCIT) is the 100th City of London Livery company formed in 1992 to represent the IT industry. In total there are 108 livery companies representing different professions, trades and crafts, both past and present. We have a membership of approximately 700 Freemen and Liverymen.

How we are managed
The company is governed by a Court of 32 Liverymen, which is chaired by a Master. A Deputy Master, Senior Warden, Junior Warden and Panel Warden support the Master, all of whom are appointed annually. The Clerk, supported by a small number of administration and charity staff, manages the day-to-day activities of the company.

What we do
The purpose of a City of London Livery company, as defined by the Court of Aldermen, is to “foster its profession, trade or craft”. This purpose is achieved through charitable works; education; fellowship; and trade and commerce.

The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists therefore works to promote the IT industry, but also runs a significant programme of charitable and educational activities. We are not, however, either the industry professional institution or trade association, although we do have affiliations or other forms of relationships with such bodies.
More specifically our purposes are:

Our charitable purpose:
To locate, mobilise and deliver resources so that those who are disadvantaged, for whatever reason, are able to share in the benefits available to society in general through access to and use of information systems. We will achieve this purpose, together with our partners, through our people and their skills, through the disbursement of our charitable funds and by utilizing available information systems. We are very experienced at working on a single charity initiative in its early stages, which we then leverage on a national or regional basis.

Our educational purpose:
To promote the use of Information Technology in transforming the learning process to make it available to all, but especially to those who may be disadvantaged for whatever reason. We will achieve this purpose by promoting information technology as the infrastructure for effective learning, and by promoting the concept of equality of access to learning, both formal and informal, for personal achievement.

Our trade and commerce purpose:
To identify key areas of relevance and importance where information technology is essential to the future success of business and the city, and to promote full debate and awareness of key issues. We will achieve this purpose by working in partnership with relevant organisations, thereby fostering the profession, trade and craft of information technology.  We facilitate discussion through seminars, conferences and private meetings, although our participation is of a neutral nature and does not follow industry agendas.

Our fellowship purpose:
To promote fellowship and communication between our Liverymen and Freemen, as well as with the information technology industry at large; and to provide for the welfare of members and their dependants in cases of extreme hardship. We will achieve this purpose by ensuring that participative events for Liverymen and Freemen are organised regularly, by investigating the future welfare needs of members, and making plans to address those needs.

We achieve these purposes by members working together in 'panels' or on committees around areas of mutual interest. There are a number of individual panels and committees covering our charitable, educational and industry activities as well as social events. We encourage all members to become actively involved in one of the following:

  • Accessibility 
 
  • Ethical and Spiritual Development
  • Arts    
 
  • Industry (Committee)
  • Charity Ball    
 
  • Medicine and Health
  • Charity Walk 
 
  • Recreation and Leisure
  • Communications and PR (Committee)
 
  • Security
  • Education and Training (Committee)
 
  • Visits and Activities
  • Entrepreneurship 
  
Further details about the aims of each of these panels or committees, as well as some examples of the work undertaken by them can be found here.

Membership is open to IT practitioners and those working in other areas with a strong IT connection – such as finance, accountancy, law, health, personnel, marketing and PR.

Many people in the IT sector are motivated to contribute to charitable or educational causes, or wish to do something to support the IT profession. By joining our Company, they can ensure that their contribution will have the maximum impact through the leverage of the time, talents and resources available across our membership. It also offers the chance to make lifelong friendships with like-minded people from all sections of the IT sector.

Types of membership
There are two types of membership:  Freeman or Liveryman. Most applicants initially become Freemen. However if a new member is already a Liveryman of another Livery Company then they will be inducted as a Liveryman.

Further information

Click here to see the list of FAQs about becoming a member.
Click here to download the application form document.
Click here to view information about our regular meet ups.

The Information Technologists' company places high priority and value in its charitable programes, activities and funding support for the IT-related work of worthy causes. Click here to view information about our culture of charitable giving.

WCIT has a number of panels and committees including education & training, security panel and arts so you would have the chance to follow some personal interests as a member. More information can be found here.

To view information about the Journey Scheme from the Information Technologists' Company please click here.

Contact:

The Clerk
Information Technologists' Company
Information Technologists’ Hall
39A Bartholomew Close
London EC4 7JN
Tel:  +44 (0)20 7600 1992
Fax: +44 (0)20 7600 1991
Email: clerk@wcit.org.uk
Web:  www.wcit.org.uk