WARP Operators’ Forum (WOF)

1. WARP Operators’ Forum(WOF) WARP Annual Forum Leeds, 13th March 2007 Dr Bob Askwith R.J.Askwith@ljmu.ac.uk Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) & North West Government WARP (NWGWARP)

2. Breakdown • Some context • WARP operator role • WARP operator needs • WOF background • Remit of the WOF • Typical items for discussion • Is the WOF a good thing? • Good aspects • Difficulties • Future? • WARP Trust • Alternatives

3. WARP Operators’ Role • Technical and management role • Recruitment and retention of member community • Building trusted community among members • Operation of technical aspects • Filtered Warning Application • Website • Forum • Holding face to face meetings with members and other stakeholders • Funding and budgeting • Interaction with other WARPs - “WOF”

4. WARP Operators needs • Support from central body, e.g. CPNI • Registration process • WARP Toolbox and website • Experience in similar projects • Authority and reputation among wider community • Support from other Operators • Newcomers require access to advice • “Can I pick your brains” • Ongoing WARPs wish to share best practice • WARPs can provide better service through sharing • Trust between operators improves sharing • Face-to-face meetings are invaluable in business • Other assorted help…

5. WOF Background • WARP Operators Forum is still quite young • First meeting was June 2005 • Meetings are every three months • Try to move around rather then always in London! • Last meeting was… yesterday in Huddersfield • Previous meetings in London, Slough, Liverpool, Melton Mowbray, York • Representation on the WOF • CPNI • WARP managers • WARP technical staff • Occasional invited guests

6. Remit of the WOF • Mandate • Strengthen relationship between WARPs and CPNI • Build efficient processes by sharing best practice • Encourage information sharing • Provide advice to new WARPs • Encourage conformance to Code of Conduct • Composition • Representatives from CPNI • WARP Operators • Other stakeholders as appropriate

7. Remit of the WOF • Decisions and Reporting • Reflect a common view of UK WARPs • Report back to all WARP providers/members • Majority vote on decisions affecting WARPs • Members represent their WARP and implement decisions made by the WOF • Chair • Registered WARP representative will be chair • Elected for 12 month period • Responsible for administration of meetings, including setting agenda, inviting guests, secretariat • Meetings • Quarterly, moving locations around UK • Use of online support for interaction

8. Typical items for discussion • Actions from previous meetings • WARP member updates • CPNI developments relating to WARPs • Filtered Warnings Application • Determining new requirements • Ways to maintain FWA development, incl. support • FWA operation, e.g. subscription trees • Community engagement • WARP toolbox / website / online forum • Providing advice brokering • Encouraging incident reporting • New ideas for WARP service • Funding

9. Is WOF a good thing? Some good aspects • Opportunity for WARP staff to share practice • Opportunity for new WARPs to seek advice • Opportunity for CPNI-WARPs interaction • Opportunity to develop the WARP concept • Opportunity to understand WARP development Proof • Members keep coming back for more!

10. Is WOF a good thing? Some difficulties… • Not always easy for operators to attend • Not clear how the forum will scale • Online forum isn’t used very much • Members suffer inertia outside meetings • Contributions to WARP toolbox are slow coming • We’re too busy providing our WARPs service!

11. Future • WARP Trust • Evolution of the current CPNI role • Marketing of the WARP concept • Protecting the WARP brand • Ensuring sustainability • Supporting the WARP Operators’ Forum • Helping new WARPs • Supporting existing WARPs develop • Alternatives • Let WARPs get on with it on their own • Lighter touch CPNI role • ???

12. Questions • Should the WOF be involved in other activities? • What should the Trust role be? • How should the WOF scale?