BCS urges alternative routes to IT careers

The British Computer Society (BCS) has revealed a modest increase in the number of applications for computer science undergraduate courses this year.

The news comes as a bumper number of students gained A-C grades at A Level this week.

A Level students and other young people who have not set on a career direction are being urged to consider going into IT by the BCS.

The membership organisation for IT professionals also hopes to encourage young people - and young women in particular - who have not taken the traditional route of science-based A Levels and university, to investigate the variety of ways into the industry.

The BCS said there are a variety of routes into an IT career including part-time courses, work placements, or studying an IT-related subject at university.

It cited IBM consultant and chair of the BCS Young Professional Group (YPG) Jennifer Hewitt, aged 26, as a good example of somebody who took a non-traditional route into computing, and who is now enjoying a satisfying career with a blue chip company.

She said: "When I left school I never imagined that I would be working in IT."

After leaving school at 16, Hewitt became interested by computing while working at Birmingham Chamber of Commerce. Later she got a job with Business Link as an information analyst. Having taken several part-time study qualifications, Jennifer was accepted onto an IT-related course at the University of Gloucestershire. And after achieving a first class degree in Information Systems with Computing, she was recruited by IBM.