Wired West is the ICT sector forum for the South West of England.
The South West has a rich and diverse ICT base which ranges from digital arts and media, through hardware and software design, to infrastructure servicing and provision. As well as commercial organisations in the ICT sector the South West hosts class leading academic and research organisations.
Despite this depth of expertise what the ICT sector in the South West of England lacks is focus. How can I find out what's going on? How can I find out who's up to what?
Wired West's aim is to give voice and visibility to these organisations in order to allow them to thrive.
To find out more, read on.
- Aims & objectives
- Core purpose
- Principles & values
- History
- Organisational structure
Aims & objectives:
To establish an ICT sector forum for the South West of England.
To be responsive and attentive to the needs of the membership.
To be focussed on delivering benefits to the whole membership that allows them to be more successful.
To be fully inclusive in its activities, allowing all individuals and organisations involved in the ICT sector in the region to participate fully.
Core purpose
Sector development: establish and promote the ICT sector within and without the region.
Networking: establish simple, fast, effective and easy to understand communications channels across the sector.
Best practice sharing: showcase, share, promote and encourage emerging and established best practice.
Business development: grow the visibility of ICT sector business opportunities across the region, provide a network of credible suppliers to buyers of ICT services and enable organisations to collaborate more closely together.
Principles & values
Open and responsive: membership feedback on all Wired West’s activities is continually sought through a formal membership feedback mechanism.
Impartial and non-competitive: membership is governed by a common sense code of conduct.
Benefits driven: Wired West's commitment is to evolve a compelling and growing set of member benefits.
Inclusive: Wired West is open to all.
History
A meeting took place in August 2003, hosted by Business Link and Foot Anstey Sargent, to gauge the level of interest in forming a new network of companies and individuals who were either suppliers of or significantly dependent on the ICT industry.
At that meeting considerable support was expressed for the concept and a number of people agreed to carry out various tasks.
Mark Welch and Phil Butcher offered to carry out the development of the web site, but it rapidly became clear that without a proper Business Plan it was impossible to design the web site in order for it to be future proof, and that there was a danger that the first enthusiasm of the members might well come to nothing if there was no clearly defined vision.
Accordingly, a Draft Development Plan was written and others joined this Working Team.
Given that this was quite a significant development from the matters discussed at the original meeting, it was agreed that the proposed November Meeting would be used as a "Proof of Concept" meeting. That meeting approved what had been done and the structure that had been suggested.
Wired West launched in January 2004.
Current Organisational structure
Wired West is run as a not-for-profit organisation under a board of trustees. Wired West's senior management team will evolve and implement the development plan alongside the membership.
It is a company limited by guarantee and does not have to use the word 'Limited' in its name. The company number is 5009098 and its registered office is currently at 4-6 Barnfield Crescent Exeter EX1 1RF.
The current Trustees include Edmund Probert, Phil Butcher, Russell Crisp, Alan Chappel, and Bill Wells.
Board composition and recruitment
The Board of Trustees will normally be appointed by the members in a formal meeting. The articles require one third of the Trustees to retire each year.
The Trustees will represent the range of involvements in the ICT sector in the South West from the private sector, academia and government agencies to represent those involved in all ICT sector activities
The Board will elect its own chairman who will also be the chair of the formal meetings of members.
Day to Day Management
The Board may appoint full or part time staff as appropriate. Each activity is likely to be delegated to a group of people who will be responsible to the Board for that function. Similarly each regional or sector based group will form their own senior management teams, responsible for that area and answerable to the Board of Trustees. In this way the activities will be able to develop as members wish, but, at the same time, be appropriately co-ordinated.
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