The UK authorities has launched a Ladies in Tech Taskforce, designed to dismantle the present limitations confronted by ladies working in, or desirous to work in, the tech sector.
Made up of a number of consultants from the know-how ecosystem, the taskforce’s major goal is to spice up financial progress, after the current government-backed Lovelace report discovered the UK is struggling an annual lack of between £2bn and £3.5bn because of ladies leaving the tech sector or altering roles.
The UK’s know-how secretary, Liz Kendall, stated: “Expertise ought to work for everybody. That’s the reason I’ve established the Ladies in Tech Taskforce, to interrupt down the limitations that also maintain too many individuals again, and to companion with trade on sensible options that make an actual distinction.
“This issues deeply to me. When ladies are impressed to tackle a task in tech and have a seat on the desk, the sector could make extra consultant selections, construct merchandise that serve everybody, and unlock the innovation and progress our financial system wants.”
The proportion of ladies within the know-how workforce stays at round 22%, having grown marginally over the previous 5 years, and the current Lovelace report discovered between 40,000 and 60,000 ladies are leaving digital roles every year, whether or not for different tech roles or to depart tech for good.
When ladies are impressed to tackle a task in tech and have a seat on the desk, the sector could make extra consultant selections, construct merchandise that serve everybody, and unlock the innovation and progress our financial system wants Liz Kendall, Division for Science, Innovation and Expertise
There are a lot of causes for this, one being the dearth of alternative to advance their profession of their present roles. Analysis by different organisations has discovered a scarcity of flexibility at work and bias additionally play a component in both stopping ladies from becoming a member of the sector or contributing to their resolution to depart IT.
The problems could be traced all the best way to school-aged women, who typically select to not proceed with know-how topics. One purpose for that is that misconceptions in regards to the abilities wanted for a tech position make younger ladies really feel the sector isn’t for them.
Headed up by the founder and CEO of Stemettes, Anne-Marie Imafidon, the founding members of the taskforce embody:
Liz Kendall, secretary of state for science, innovation and know-how.
Anne-Marie Imafidon, founding father of Stemettes; Ladies in Tech Envoy.
Allison Kirkby, CEO, BT Group.
Anna Brailsford, CEO and co-founder, Code First Women.
Francesca Carlesi, CEO, Revolut.
Louise Archer, tutorial, Institute of Training.
Karen Blake, tech inclusion strategist; former co-CEO of the Tech Expertise Constitution.
Sue Daley, director tech and Innovation, TechUK.
Vinous Ali, deputy government director, StartUp Coalition.
Charlene Hunter, founder, Coding Black Females.
Hayaatun Sillem, CEO, Royal Academy of Engineering.
Kate Bell, assistant normal secretary, TUC.
Amelia Miller, co-founder and CEO, ivee.
Ismini Vasileiou, director, East Midlands Cyber Safety Cluster.
Emma O’Dwyer, director of public coverage, Uber.
These consultants will assist the federal government “determine and dismantle” the limitations stopping ladies from becoming a member of or staying within the tech sector throughout the areas of schooling, coaching and profession development.
They can even advise on the right way to help and develop variety within the UK’s tech ecosystem and replicate the success of organisations that have already got a good gender break up of their tech remits.
Collaboration has been closely pinpointed prior to now as being the one manner sustained change could be developed in terms of variety in tech, with the taskforce engaged on advising the federal government on coverage, whereas additionally consulting on how authorities, the tech trade and schooling suppliers can work collectively to make it simpler to extend and keep the variety of ladies in tech.
The taskforce will work in tandem with different authorities initiatives geared toward encouraging ladies and younger folks into know-how careers, such because the not too long ago launched TechFirst abilities programme and the Regional Tech Booster programme, amongst others.
The primary assembly of the Ladies in Tech Taskforce befell on 15 December 2025.
