IBM
IBM sponsors a significant number of equality, inclusion and corporate social responsibility events. These are a few examples of our activities planned for 2007/2008.
The IBM EXITE Camps are week-long, summer day camps for middle school girls (ages 12 and 13). Held at IBM facilities, the camps are designed to showcase career opportunities in technology and engineering, to introduce them to female role models who can demonstrate what they can achieve in these fields, and to give them hands-on experiences in technical activities that are fun, challenging and educational.
IBM UK had the pleasure in partnering with Stepladder to set up this leadership programme for Black and Asian 14-16 years. These young people are being given the opportunity to participate in an exciting two year programme, one Saturday a month. Inspiration will be given to achieve higher education and go on to become the ‘industrial high flyers of tomorrow.’
This networking event is booked for October 2007 to coincide with Black History Month. It is an internal IBM event giving an excellent opportunity to raise and discuss current issues on the ethnicity agenda with subject matter experts.
Everywoman, a women-owned organisation launched five years ago to provide independent, practical advice for women business owners. IBM has been the technology sponsor for Everywoman from the start, as confirmation of its commitment to an increasingly diverse business environment and part of its overall strategy of supporting small to medium sized businesses. IBM is also the key partner for Everywoman’s conference programme, with a series of high profile events being staged across the UK.
These IBM groups meet regularly in many locations around the UK. All women in IBM are free to participate in the sessions and use them as an opportunity to meet other women at the same location, to share experiences, to learn from other like minded people and to listen to speakers. The groups are a place to ask questions and offer suggestions and encourage each other to progress their careers.
IBM is a major sponsor of this Stonewall education campaign to tackle homophobic bullying in schools. IBM’s ‘OnDemand Community’ program facilitates employees to volunteer their time to help shape the strategy of this important initiative.
IBM is working in partnership with Manchester University to support students with disabilities at the university by providing them with 'virtual mentoring' using IBM's purpose designed e-mentoring software and assigning IBM volunteers to each of the students, to provide advice, information, coaching and help with employability skills.
IBM will be taking part in a high-profile charity project in South Africa to build homes for children whose parents have died of AIDS. 21 female IBM employees will be responsible for the fundraising and will journey to the region to work alongside local women in support of this amazing development.
