InterForum's History
InterForum was launched on the 7th of June 1996 by the IT Forum Foundation (ITFF) as an independent, not-for-profit organisation set up to help realise and accelerate the enormous potential new and emerging information and communication technologies offer the UK economy.
Initially, InterForum launched with eight founding members - the FT Group, News International, IBM, ICL, Microsoft, Sun Microsystems, Oracle, Staffware and Miller Freeman Exhibitions - who all shared a common belief in the power of ICT technologies to transform the British economy.
Today, nearly 50 members - made up of many of the world's most influential technology suppliers, major British companies adopting cutting edge ICT solutions and many Government departments - share in this belief.
While the day-to-day issues InterForum members address have evolved with the maturing British e-economy, its overriding challenges remain:
- To build an open and cohesive technological infrastructure to support the digital economy
- To create a supportive regulatory and legislative framework
- To educate British business to the many opportunities new technologies offer for greater effectiveness and profitability and the best approaches to adopt.
Addressing these issues, InterForum members play an increasingly important role in shaping, promoting and building a strong digital economy for Britain.
InterForum's diverse range of high profile activities, events and publications reach literally thousands of British organisations every year.
Key to these activities is:
InterForum's diverse range of high profile activities, events and publications reach literally thousands of British organisations each year.
Key to these activities is:
- The highly-acclaimed UK online for Business and InterForum E-Commerce Awards for the UK's small and medium enterprises and UK voluntary sector organisations, which is now in its fifth year.
- A widely-published and freely-available white paper and business publication series addressing specific issues facing UK businesses in the adoption of electronic business.
- Its wide-ranging work with Government, which includes work with UK online for business to devise the e-procurement roadmap that will web-enable all SME suppliers to public sector organisations by 2005.
- Roadshows and events across the UK that reach out to and educate small and medium sized organisations to the potential of ICT technologies.
- Regular seminars, dinners and symposia featuring speakers such as the Larry Ellison, Lord MacDonald of Tradeston CBE, Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
As Britain work's toward achieving the Government's goal to be a leading digital economy, InterForum will continue to have an important role to play.
By providing a single, independent voice for suppliers and end-users, it is in a unique position to help ensure that the education, legislation and technologies are in place for a successful British e-economy.
Key Milestones:
8 October 2003
UK online for business/InterForum E-Commerce Awards. 2,945 entries received.
April 2003
'E-transforming the UK Judicial System'. InterForum host a half-day seminar for Michael Wills of the Home Office Criminal Justice Service.Sponsors include Transco, Royal Bank of Scotland and BT.
4 July 2002
UK online for business/InterForum E-Commerce Awards. 1,683 entries received.
12 March 2002
OpenForum Europe and National Computing Centre announce partnership to promote take up of open source software in EU.
1 July 2002
InterForum hosts 'Modernising Parliament for the Electronic Age': a week long exhibition at Westminster.
11 October 2001
E-Connect 2001 Symposium: 'Beyond the website - how to transform your business using the Internet'. Speakers include Douglas Alexander, Minister of E-Commerce and Competitiveness.
6 July 2001
UK online for business/InterForum E-Commerce Awards 2001. 1,200 entries received.
10 October 2000
E-Connect 2000 Symposium: 'Practical E-Business Strategies Made Simple'. Speakers include Stelios Haji-Ioannou, Chairman of easyGroup.
11 July 2000
ISI/InterForum E-Commerce Awards 2000. 400 entries received.
18 April 2000
InterForum and Miller Freeman launch How to dotcom your company; eBusiness made simple, an e-commerce handbook for small and medium sized businesses.
18-20 April 2000
InterForum runs a free Business Advice Centre for SMEs at Webcom 2000.
October 2000
'e-Communities - Bridging the Digital Divide' conference co-hosted by InterForum with the DfEE for Michael Wills, the then Minister for Education and Employment.
June 1999
InterForum and ISI launch the UK's first national E-Commerce Awards for small to medium organisations. 236 entries received.
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