The UK government has launched a programme to support women and girls in entering the male-dominated tech industry.
It has been a well-established truth for years now that the tech industry has a serious diversity problem, with efforts to improve the gender equity in the sector so far only barely moving the needle.
Moreover, research from the recent Lovelace Report from WeAreTechWomen pointed out that as well as being deeply unfair to women, the gender disparity is also costing the economy an estimated £2-3.5bn every year.
The new package of targeted support from the government will see paid tech placements offered and support for women returning after career breaks to re-enter tech jobs.
Through the programme the government said it can help 300 women advance their careers through work placements backed by funding from TechFirst Women.
Participants will receive coaching, interview prep support and work with businesses across the country to identify at least 300 placements in tech roles for local women.
As well as this, a new TechFirst Girls competition will be delivered to thousands across the country later this year aimed at encouraging a new generation of women tech workers.
“I am very aware of the reality women face in tech: women aren’t being given a fair shot – whether that’s getting into the sector, staying in it, or returning after time away. If we don’t address these unfair biases and barriers now, we’ll still be having this conversation in ten years’ time,” said Tech Secretary Liz Kendall.
“We’re acting through a skills and jobs package to get more women into tech quickly. These aren’t warm words – they’re real jobs, real placements, and real routes back in through a door that has been too hard to open, for too long.”
