Archive for the ‘Inclusion’ Category

Virgin Media is working with training provider Freeformers and Innovation Birmingham to offer small businesses in Birmingham the opportunity to participate in a series of online training workshops to learn how to build a live web page, release a viral social video, develop a web app and new social online marketing techniques. The workshops will take place on three days across three consecutive weeks in June 2013 at Birmingham Science Park, Aston.

You should consider applying for this free training programme if you are:

 - A small or medium-sized business based in Birmingham

- Are able to commit to attending three sessions, either on the 12^th, 19^th and 26^th of June, or on the 13^th, 20th and 26^th June 2013 at Birmingham Science Park, Aston

- Agree to provide feedback on your experience that can be used in case study material for other small business to benefit from

- Have an idea of how you will use digital training to improve your marketing or business model.

 If you are interested in applying, please contact us by 17^th May, or get in touch with Virgin Media directly at Daniel.Butler@virginmedia.co.uk or on 0207 909 3287.

The Next Gen Skills Debate – Birmingham Re-Worked on Monday was organised in association with Birmingham’s Commission on Youth Unemployment and Birmingham’s Smart City Commission, to take a transformative look at how we invest in skills & enterprise as part of a digital economy and create a brighter future for the young people of this city.

The Next Gen Skills Debate took place at Millennium Point in front of a packed house, energised by the support of Sampad and BOA students, who were our ‘Next Gen’ reporters’ for the day  – a reminder that young people need to be at the heart of the debate and shaping the next generation of learning – their future now. More – #nextgenskills

Back in June, we were approached to see how we could support the YRS Festival 2012, after it had outgrown its previous location in Bletchley and bring it to Birmingham. Through the hard work of many people, particularly Lara Ratnaraja and Big Cat, the Custard Factory and Birmingham, became home to the YRS Festival for the very first time.

Cllr McKay, Cabinet Member for Green, Safe and Smart City at the Show and Tell

This was a great coup for Birmingham; not only do we have the youngest population out of all the cities in Europe (so capturing the talent and ingenuity of young people resonates really well with us), but also the Open Data agenda is right at the heart of our Smart City programme. Ensuring data is open and accessible and easier to use will enable huge possibilities in the development of new apps, services and innovative products as part of this.

YRS 2012 proved just that. With access to open data and a week of intensive coding by youngsters (nigh on 500, some as young as 7!), at different centres across the country – we had a centre in Birmingham, courtesy of BCU (Millennium Point), something amazing took place. The culmination of all the hard work and late nights, ended with a massive sleepover session at the Custard Factory on Friday night  (fuelled by some 200 pizza’s) and show and tell on Saturday.

Their creations, along with the presentations were awe inspiring – postcode wars app; a way to go were some of the winners -100 projects from 38 centres; but for me it does drive home the need for us to get our data out there, and let nature do the rest.

Our thanks to Emma and her team for a brilliant event.  YRS is living proof of what is possible, highlights the significance of supporting young people to develop the skills needed for the jobs of the future and provides a great concept that we would like to explore and develop further in Birmingham.

2011 UK Census

I had a meeting at the end of last year with a colleague who is working on promoting this year’s census. The census collects data that a lot of government funding is based on (as well as being an opportunity for deeply conformist types to think they are sticking it to the man) and so councils are obviously keen to ensure that as many people fill it in as possible. This year’s census is the first one that can be completed online, which is one reason why my colleague was interested in how she might promote it through social media

More – Promoting the census with social media

Congratulations to a Midlands digital project which has been awarded an international ‘Car Magazine of the Year’ award at the Digital Magazine Awards, judged by Microsoft,
Yudu, The Telegraph, Quark and WIRED magazine.

The RubberDuckMag, was the only award-winner from the Midlands, and is leading the way in its interactive functions, but

also embraces sign language.

6 October 2010 – Rich Mix, London E1

See IT in action demonstrates how councils and partners can use technology to transform the delivery of public services, improve outcomes, and help achieve more for less.

This is a free event, on Wednesday 6 October

2010, supported by Communities and Local Government, local authorities and civil society partners.

It is a must-attend day for all those who commission or manage local public services, who are looking to make their work more efficient, cheaper, and targeted at supporting those most in need. It is your opportunity to ensure you are ready, well informed and have the contacts necessary to meet the challenges facing those delivering today’s public services.

For more information and to register, please click here.

I received a fab little video this morning from LGTV in which Martha Lane Fox was being

interviewed on the benefits of being digitally included, as part of her ‘Race Online’ campaign.  Its great to see someone so close to Central Government sending out such powerful messages. Take a look at the full interview here

Birmingham City University are hosting a one day digital participation seminar on 19th July.

It intends to provide a forum for discussion of the meaning and measurability of Digital Participation, focusing on the three main measurables promoted by the generic viagra Digital Participation Consortium – Reach, Breadth, Depth.

It will include contributions from Ofcom, following publication of their initial statistics bulletin on digital participation. In addition it will hear about the role of the UK Research Council funded Digital Economy Hub at Newcastle University and from the Arts Council and Audiences Central on the experience they have in measuring participation in the arts. More – Measuring the Unmeasurable: Digital Participation Seminar

Following on from the Martha Lane Fox visit to Birmingham last week, I have attached the discussion notes from the parallel workshop that took place and findings shared with Martha Lane Fox. Any thoughts, please let us know and we can feed these in.

I have also included a short video clip where Martha Lane Fox talks about her role as Champion for Digital Inclusion.
Please enable Javascript and Flash to view this Viddler video.