A new accreditation scheme is being piloted
in South Yorkshire which will help make
the region’s business premises stand
out from the rest of the country’s.
The ict active scheme, which is the first
of its kind in the UK, has also been designed
to provide companies with the information
they need to choose workspaces that have
the right level of ICT provision for their
needs.
ict active assesses the
ICT facilities in a building by surveying
key factors including the fixed infrastructure
and availability of services such as broadband
and telephony. Those which are well set
up for business receive a plaque and are
added to the ict active website database.
The accreditation, which is free until
April 2008, will mark workspaces out as
being ahead of the field and provide a
way for businesses to identify premises
that will suit their needs.
The standard is already
attracting interest from both estate agents
and premises managers. Guy Gilfillan, head
of office at Lambert Smith Hampton Sheffield
said: "The ICT Active initiative is
great news for South Yorkshire's businesses.
It will ensure that companies seeking office
space have the information to hand to ensure
IT compatibility when they relocate.
“It is essential
that firms are aware of their businesses’ internet
and IT needs now, but this will also allow
them to be future proof so they can concentrate
on the job in hand - growing their business."
A
survey by the Confederation of British
Industry indicated that companies across
the UK invested £10.6 billion on
internet technology alone in 2006 and a
recent Yorkshire Forward study shows that
computer use by businesses in the region
now stands at 82%.
Jim Farmery, Head of
Innovation at Yorkshire Forward explains; “Good
IT systems are not just an administrative
tool, they can help companies work more
efficiently, improve their customer service – even
access new markets.
“This accreditation
scheme will allow companies to access good
quality facilities more easily, which in
turn will allow them to grow their business.”
Fifteen buildings across
South Yorkshire have already signed up
to the scheme including Aizlewood’s
Mill, BBIC, Directions Finningley and Moorgate
Crofts.
Catherine Beatty, Manager
of Aizlewood’s Mill, believes ict
active accreditation will be beneficial
for her building:
“Good IT facilities
attract people. ict active will make a
big difference because rather than claiming
we have good IT we will have an accreditation
to support that claim.”
Any business property
in South Yorkshire can undergo an ict active
assessment and become one of the first
in the country to make their ICT infrastructure
a major selling point. Thanks to Objective
1 financial backing through Yorkshire Forward
and Business Link South Yorkshire anyone
who signs up by April 2008 will have their
survey free of charge.
For more information
about ict active and how to participate
in the pilot,
please
call Ellie Lambert on 0845 111 4122.
