March 2011 Update

1. Women IT contractors survey

One of our LinkedIn group members, Louisa Roberts, is the MSc Careers Manager at Cass Business School. She's also an MSc Occupational Psychology student and she's currently conducting a study on the careers of male and female IT contractor professionals who are from and work in the UK. If this applies to you, she'd be really grateful if you could take some time to complete the following survey to help her with her research. Please complete the survey by Sunday 6th March: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/677V77S?goback=.gde_100875_member_43641995

2. Would a job share at senior level work in YOUR organisation?
With the pressures on organisations to increase the number of women in senior roles, Capability Jane are exploring the feasibility of job sharing as a way of opening up senior-level opportunities to talented individuals wanting to work on a part-time basis. They have recently launched a research project to investigate the feasibility of job shares at senior level working with thought-leading organisations - Centrica, Deloitte, DHL, Freshfields, KPMG, Herbert Smith, RBS - leading authors, researchers and academics from top business schools - Cranfield, Leeds and Lancaster. They would really like to hear about your experiences of job sharing, whether you have employed and managed job shares, would like to, think it would or wouldn't work in your organisation or just have something to say about job sharing. More information can be found here: http://www.capabilityjane.com/jobsharing/ and the survey can be found here: http://www.capabilityjane.com/jobsharing/survey.html and it needs to be completed by Monday 14th March 2011. If you have any questions at all, please contact Bella Mehta on bellamehta@capabilityjane.com or 07968 566337.

3. Panel Discussion with Esther McVey MP on Equality & Diversity in the IT industry, Tuesday 15th March 2011, 5.30pm, London 
Intellect's Women in IT Forum is hosting an 'Equality & Diversity in the IT industry' discussion with guest panellists Esther McVey MP,  Nikki Walker, Senior Director Inclusion, Diversity & Sustainability Europe, Cisco and Janet Day, IT Director, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP. According to Intellect’s 2010 survey on Perceptions of Equal Pay,  59% of women working in the technology industry either do not believe that their pay is comparable to their male colleagues, or simply do not know. Despite improvements in the perceptions of equality, there remains deep concern about the lack of transparency in pay structures of companies. The event will be an opportunity for an informed discussion between government and industry representatives about the importance of unlocking female talent in the technology industry. Realising equal opportunities is a challenging task, but at a time when the global economy is being restructured it is key in achieving the UK government’s objective for smart and sustainable growth.Please note that this meeting will be held under Chatham House Rules. More information can be found here

4. The BT Retail Week Technology Awards 2011, celebrating technical excellence within retail!
Run by Retail Week and judged by leading retailers, these awards are the perfect opportunity to show how you have been using technology to support your business. If you have made it easier for customers to shop with you, understood customer requirements and reflected this in your retail technology provisions, or implemented initiatives the market should sit up and take notice of – then make sure you enter the BT Retail Week Technology Awards for your chance to gain industry recognition, the respect of your peers and the opportunity to develop your profile; whilst rewarding your teams. The winners will be announced at a glittering ceremony at London's Hilton Hotel on Tuesday 14th June which always plays host to the biggest names in the industry. This event is a sell-out, so remember to guarantee your place early. Book your table before 13th April to save £200! For more information, go to www.retailweektechnologyawards.com where you can categories and criteria. The deadline for entries is Friday 18th March.

5. Join the Women's Leadership Challenge in India - April 2011 
The next Women’s International Leadership Challenge will take place in Chennai from 3rd to 9th April 2011. Pepal are looking for professional women with at least five years professional experience who are passionate, committed and open to working with new people in different environments. Pepal’s mission is to foster an environment where private sector businesses and non-profit organisations can develop equal partnerships to achieve social change. Programme benefits include:
   Building a lasting strategic partnership with an Indian non-profit organisation.
   Developing your leadership capability, increasing your confidence and expanding your comfort zone.
   Networking with like-minded and talented professionals from across the globe.
   Leveraging your skills and experience in a developing country context.
   Learning resilience by taking part in a dynamic, cross-cultural, international exchange.
   Contributing to bringing about sustainable social change on the ground.
For more information click here or contact Victoria at Pepal - 020 7759 1823 or 07714 246338 - www.pepal.org

6.  Lean Agile Masterclass – Creating an Integrated ICT Value Stream Using Lean and Agile, 5th April 2011, London
This unique one day seminar shows you how using Agile and Lean thinking together can completely transform your IT function. What will be covered:
  What  is LEAN and how does it relate to IT?
  How would a LEAN IT service look and feel and how is this likely to be better than a more traditional IT service management structure?
  What would it mean to me personally as a manager to break away from traditional IT management? What would I have to change to make it happen?
  How can LEAN influence a sourcing strategy?
  How can LEAN enable Six Sigma, ITIL, CMMI and other continuous improvement methods to really deliver business benefit?
  What do we mean by LEAN and what do we mean by AGILE?
  How to map the application development value stream and identify useful measures of value delivered
  How to engage with key stakeholders and gain understanding of their perception of value
  How to build sustainable, collaborative and mutually beneficial joint management processes (particularly in an outsourced context)
  How to use visible measures to focus on value-add activity and eliminate waste from the development process
  How to build a body of experience for the guidance of future project teams and continuously improve the effectiveness of your people.
The day will also include a discussion of case studies including examples of how LEAN is being applied to IT service management and the results achieved and the use of AGILE in a large corporate with multiple outsourced and offshore suppliers. Tickets cost £395 and we have negotiated a 20% discount for Women in Technology members - please quote WIT20 when booking. More information can be found here

7. Nominations for the 2011 First Women Awards are now open!
Do you know an inspirational business woman who's leading the way for others? If so, why not recognise her success through the First Women Awards? For the past seven years the First Women Awards, in association with Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets and championed by the CBI and Real Business, have recognised and celebrated outstanding businesswomen whose achievements have helped — and are helping — to smash through the glass ceiling and open up pportunities for others to follow. If you're a trailblazing pioneer in business or know someone who is, start nominating now for a First Women Award! There is a 'Science & Technology' category and it would be great to see a range of Women in Technology members being put forward. Nominations close on Friday 15th April 2011. More information can be found here

8. National Centre for Diversity Annual Conference, Tuesday 17th May, Manchester
The National Centre for Diversity's mission is to encourage and enable organisations to adopt and develop behaviours and practices which promote inclusion, equality, diversity and inclusion. Their annual conference is aimed at chief executives, directors, HR staff and equality and diversity staff as well as people who are interested in D&I in the workplace. The conference will focus on the good practice going on in the diversity & inclusion sector and the main keynote speakers are: Tony Strutt, Head of Equality Act Implementation, Government Equalities Office, Sara Hanson, Head of Diversity, ITV and Stephen Frost, Head of Diversity and Inclusion, London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. Tickets costs from £299 + VAT but we have negotiated a 10% discount for Women in Technology members so please quote WIT when booking to obtain the reduced ticket price. More information can be found here
 
9. New book - YOUR LOSS: How to Win Back your Female Talent - discount for Women in Technology members!
Based on global qualitative and quantitative research, this book offers a hands-on blue-print for creating gender savvy organisations. The authors, Christina Ioannidis and Nicola Walther, asked women around the world why they left large corporations at the pinnacle of their career and what would make them go back. Their views and the authors' experience as ex-corporate-professionals-turned-entrepreneurs have given rise to a practical methodology to create the gender-inclusive corporate culture required to reduce talent loss and boost productivity. The book is divided into two parts:
Part 1 - How to create a gender savvy organisation; focusing on elements in their gender savvy model: passion, flexibility, innovative collaboration and sustainability. 
Part 2 - Applying the gender savvy model to a company’s value chain. Themes include: marketing to women and managing women. In the last chapter, they also offer women practical advice about what they can do for themselves to help encourage cultural change.
The book is enriched by extensive interviews with 30+ c-suite level women and nearly 200 corporate professionals-turned-entrepreneurs also lend insight and share cutting-edge actions to stop corporations losing their top female talent. We have negotiated a 10% discount for Women in Technology - enter the code 'witech' when you purchase it online here

10.  Could you help the Brownies to review the content of their computer badge?
We have recently been in touch with Girlguiding UK and they are currently establishing a volunteer panel to look at their current badge offerings. Would you be interested in helping them to look at their badges, specifically the computer and communications badges, but also help input into how they can appropriately weave technology into the wider range of badges they offer. If this might be of interest, please contact Maggie - mberry@womenin.co.uk

 
11. Would you or your company be interested in sponsoring the youngest female racing drive in the UK?
Zoe Wenham is the youngest female racing driver in the country (ever!). She races in the Volkswagen Racing Cup against other drivers who are all male (who mostly have many years of racing experience) and she's still only 16. For the two years before joining the VW Cup last year, she raced in a junior championship called Saxmax and she's raced karts from the age of nine. When she is not racing, she is a sixth former studying A levels in IT, Maths, Physics and Business Studies. She has also been recognised by the UK's National Motorsport governing body (The Motorsports Association) who are mentoring and educating her at Loughborough via an Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE). She's also working with the Eve Appeal as a sporting ambassador, helping to raise funds and awareness with a close family friend who last year tackled (and hopefully defeated) cancer of the womb. Zoe now needs to raise sponsorship to help with her racing budget. Motorsport is an expensive sport and without sufficient funding she is not able to do enough testing and be as competitive as she could be. So are there any companies, organisations or individuals in our network who might be interested in helping Zoe financially? More information can be found here and she would be very grateful for any suggestions, recommendations, or just comments on the sponsorship portfolio - you can contact her via: zoewenham@hotmail.co.uk and http://www.zoewenham.com/

12. Would you be interested in professionally volunteering in Malawi or Sri Lanka?

Challenges Worldwide (Challenges), an international development charity and award winning social enterprise, has been working since 1999 to support the growth of strong, sustainable economies across Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Instead of just sending money and aid, Challenges matches the professional skills of volunteer experts to partner organisations working across sectors such as agri-business, renewable energy, fair trade, health and justice - all essential components of a strong, sustainable economy. The skills of UK consultants and business experts are in specific demand for the following Challenges Worldwide projects:
Capacity Building for Enterprise (CBE) is a Scottish Government funded project and is linked with a World Bank initiative in Malawi. The project’s aim is to provide a world class consultancy service to MSME’s (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) and, through a mentoring programme, sustainably build indigenous consultancy capacity and expertise in Malawi.
Sri Lanka Enterprise Development (SLED) is an initiative similar in aim to the above CBE project, although taking into consideration local needs and priorities.  In addition to providing consultancy services to SME’s, especially in remote rural areas, SLED aims to develop a sustainable programme of training and mentoring aimed at creating and expanding a pool of qualified business consultants capable of delivering a range of services tailored to the needs of Sri Lankan SMEs.
For both of these projects volunteer consultants are provided with return airfares, insurance, accommodation in-country, a contribution towards the cost of inoculations and a daily stipend. Volunteers with Challenges Worldwide gain experience in living and working abroad, enhance their skills within a different setting, improve their confidence and motivation and can enjoy a meaningful career break. What is more they will leave the country knowing they have improved the lives of others and contributed to the development of some of the world’s poorest countries. For further information or to apply for these positions please contact Ruth McNeil at ruth.mcneil@challengesworldwide.com or on 0788 400 1032.

13. Challenge yourself and help give a girl a dream! Girlguiding UK Charity Challenge
You can help make a real difference to the lives of hundreds of girls across the UK by taking part in a Girlguiding UK Charity Challenge. Their 2011 challenge is designed to push personal limits while raising money for Girlguiding UK’s Centenary Fund – which aims to fulfil the next 100 years of girls’ dreams. Get your family and friends involved or why not help your company fulfil their corporate and social responsibility targets for 2011. Members of staff could take part in a life changing experience in places they’ve only dreamt of visiting. Inspire staff to help develop the company by connecting with their team mates in an alternative to the traditional team activity day or office party. They still have places left on their amazing trek to The Great Rift Valley in Tanzania (20th to 30th October 2011) and they are asking members and supporters aged 18 and over to help us to continue ‘giving girls a dream’ by taking part in our exciting and challenging adventure overseas. Go to girlguiding.org.uk/charitychallenges for more details or contact Shola on 020 7592 1821 / charity.challenges@girlguiding.org.uk

14. Are you concerned about your child's behaviour?
Maverick Television are looking for families who are worried about their child or teenager’s emotional or mental well being, and would like some help from a team of emotional and behavioural, mental health professionals. The new ITV documentary series will aim to cover a broad range of issues and conditions, both minor and major. These may include depression, phobias, ADHD, OCD, internet addiction, body dysmorphia, self injury and aspergers syndrome, as well as more general behavioural issues and anxieties. The documentary will follow the young person and their families as they receive help and support from specialists best suited to each child’s needs. For more information about this TV documentary please contact Kirsty - k.calvert-ansari@mavericktv.co.uk or call 0207 874 6694 or click here 

15. Do you have any old PC monitors that could be donated to Computer Aid?
Computer Aid International has launched a UK-wide appeal for monitors to meet demand for computers from schools, hospitals and charities in Africa and Latin America. The charity requires donations of over 2,500 monitors per month however it is currently only receiving 30% of this number. So they are calling for all IT managers who have unwanted TFT or CRT monitors to help them meet demand. Hundreds of schools in Chile are waiting to receive computers and while they currently have over 4,000 refurbished base units ready and waiting to go, they don’t have the monitors to match them with. Although most companies refresh their base units every three to four years, a recent survey shows that most people do not upgrade their monitors at the same rate - while this is definitely a good thing as it means that companies are extending the life of their IT equipment, it has resulted in a critical shortage in donated screens to Computer Aid. Consequently they are urging any individuals or companies who have unwanted monitors to get in touch – your donation could make a huge and immediate difference to hundreds of people. Just one refurbished computer can provide 6,000 hours of further use – enough to educate 60 children to a vocational level in IT and significantly increase their employment prospects. Alternatively, one computer can also allow a rural doctor to communicate with specialists in cities, thereby allowing them to provide life-saving medical treatment which they might otherwise have been unable to diagnose or carry out. If you want to find out more about donating equipment to Computer Aid International, please contact them on 020 8361 5540 or enquiries@computeraid.org or visit their website: www.computeraid.org

16. Are you a female breadwinner?
Are you a female breadwinner? Are you supporting your husband/partner? We're not talking about the growing army of stay-at-home dads/househusbands, just those men who are financially dependent on their wives/partners who may be taking time out to study or who are in a less-well paid job or are maybe writing a book or pursuing a more vocational career path. If so Sally Williams, a journalist, would love to hear your experiences for a feature she’s writing for Stella, the Sunday Telegraph magazine. Do you welcome the chance to be the sole breadwinner, or thoroughly resent it? Couples would have to be happy to be interviewed and photographed. If you're interested, or would like to discuss it further, please contact sally@workonline.co.uk