Bruce Wright

Bruce Wright

Bruce Wright has been involved with the use of emerging technologies since the late 60s when he studied Cybernetics and Psychology at Reading University. After teaching in a secondary comprehensive for 7 years, he was seconded in 1986 to the University of Exeter to research educational applications of emerging technologies. His work as a Senior Research Fellow for the University led to his appointment as Associate Principal Consultant for ICL (Fujitsu) on the development of solutions and services for learning and inclusion.

During his 5 years with ICL, Bruce worked with Community Groups, National Organisations, Local Government, Museums and Regeneration Partnerships on the production of their bids for the DfES Capital Modernisation Fund. Specifically, he was involved in innovative bids to the DfES ICT Learning Centres (subsequently UK online Centres) and Wired Up Communities together with the NOF Community Access to Lifelong Learning programmes.Bruce established himself as a Funding Expert on ICT-related initiatives, with particular emphasis on Learning, Inclusion and Regeneration whilst at the University of Exeter and ICL. He launched the Funding Matters (Information, Advice & Guidance) online service in 2001. Funding Matters has established itself as a leader in the field of funding for ICT-related projects by providing services that include:

·          Email funding alerts

·          Critical Friend Review Service

·          Telephone Mentoring Service

·          Strategic Overview Service

·          Webinars on Winning Funding (using internet telephony and screen-sharing technologies) 

More recently he has worked for the DfES, Learning and Skills Council and University for industry on sustainability issues for UK online centres, case studies in the use of centres for the e-government agenda, Neighbourhood Learning in Disadvantaged Communities and Community Learning funding issues. Funding Matters was a founder member of net:gain (a national exemplar consortium including Ruralnet, Ufi and Foyer Federation) that was funded by the Home Office Active Communities Unit as part of their ChangeUp programme to develop the use of ICT in the Voluntary and Community Sector.Recently he worked for the LSC on the development of a video website to promote good practice in the use of ICT in the post-16 sector as part of the Technology for Learning policy.Bruce currently provides funding and sustainability services to the Berkshire Neighbourhood Learning Centres Partnership, UK online centres network, MGL (a schools service provider) and is the funding expert for Ruralnet’s Expert Online service.