A new campaign launched by a Swindon firm aims to highlight the major role IT professionals are playing in connecting people during the coronavirus crisis.

The #vITalworker social media campaign kicked off by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT on North Star Avenue is asking people to share and celebrate examples of IT employees working to keep essential elements of our society functioning.

People are encouraged to highlight this by tagging the praiseworthy workers and companies in a post on LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook with the hashtag #vITalworker

BCS will then be tagging the best examples in postings from its accounts and giving those professionals the opportunity to claim a vital worker sticker and badge.

Chief executive Paul Fletcher said: “As the coronavirus crisis moves our personal and professional lives online, computing and digital services are more valuable to society than ever.

“We want to support and champion IT professionals doing vital work to protect the national infrastructure, including the NHS, during these difficult times.

"Our new campaign is all about highlighting, recognising and celebrating the incredible contribution that they are making during these unprecedented times.

"Thank you to all key workers. Please don’t forget the unseen work of IT professionals saving lives by enabling more people to work from home. Keeping in touch with family online or shopping online? That’s thanks to them too!"

As part of the campaign, the company will be running weekly webinars on subjects ranging from cyber security risks to mental wellbeing top tips and how to protect children and vulnerable groups from social media harm.

BCS’ volunteer community is doing its bit to contribute to the national effort in a variety of different ways.

These include linking up with charities to harness their IT skills, helping local communities with troubleshooting tech issues, and, for teachers, supporting each other through the Computing at Schools (CAS) network.

For more information, visit www.bcs.org/policy-and-influence/vital-workers-keeping-us-connected