Key Takeaways
- The UK government has launched a new taskforce to help women "enter, stay and lead" in the tech sector.
- The taskforce, led by technology secretary Liz Kendall, aims to boost diversity and economic growth in the industry.
- Women currently account for only 22% of those working in IT specialist roles in the UK.
- The taskforce will advise on ways to make the tech sector more representative and ensure the UK accesses the full talent pool, market opportunities, and innovation capacity needed for economic growth.
- The taskforce includes 15 founding members, including female leaders from tech companies and organisations.
Introduction to the Taskforce
The UK government has launched a new taskforce aimed at helping women to "enter, stay and lead" in the tech sector. Led by technology secretary Liz Kendall, the taskforce will see female leaders from tech companies and organisations advise the government on how to boost diversity and economic growth in the industry. This move comes as the latest figures suggest that women account for only 22% of those working in IT specialist roles in the UK. The taskforce is a significant step towards addressing the gender gap in the tech sector and ensuring that the industry is representative of the population it serves.
The Need for Diversity in Tech
The need for diversity in the tech sector cannot be overstated. BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT, has warned that the amount of women working in the UK tech sector still lags far behind men. This lack of diversity can have serious consequences, including the creation of AI systems that are not representative of the population. As chief executive Sharron Gunn noted, "We cannot create high-trust, high-integrity AI systems if the profession behind them is missing out on the talents and perspective of half the population." The taskforce is a crucial step towards addressing this issue and ensuring that the tech sector is able to tap into the full range of talents and perspectives available.
Leadership and Expertise
The taskforce will be led by Liz Kendall, alongside Anne-Marie Imafidon, founder of Stemettes, who has been appointed as the Women in Tech Envoy. Dr Imafidon is a highly respected expert in the field, having passed A-level computing aged 11 and received a Master’s Degree in Maths and Computer Science from the University of Oxford aged 20. She has spent over a decade working to encourage more young women into careers in Stem – science, technology, engineering and maths. Her role as Women in Tech Envoy will build on this work, and she will play a key part in shaping the taskforce’s agenda and ensuring that it is effective in achieving its goals.
The Taskforce’s Goals and Objectives
The taskforce will advise on ways to make the tech sector more representative and ensure that the UK accesses the full talent pool, market opportunities, and innovation capacity needed for economic growth. This will involve identifying and addressing the barriers that currently prevent women from entering and progressing in the tech sector. As Sue Daley, director of technology and innovation at industry group techUK, noted, "Entry routes, career progression to leadership, and access to capital are just some of the barriers women in tech still face today." The taskforce will work to address these barriers and create a more level playing field for women in the tech sector.
The Founding Members
The taskforce includes 15 founding members, including female leaders from tech companies and organisations. These members bring a wealth of expertise and experience to the taskforce, and will play a key part in shaping its agenda and ensuring that it is effective in achieving its goals. The founding members include BT Group boss Allison Kirkby, Revolut chief executive Francesca Carlesi, and Dr Hayaatun Sillem, chief executive of the Royal Academy of Engineering. They will work together to advise the government on how to boost diversity and economic growth in the tech sector, and to create a more representative and inclusive industry.
Conclusion
The launch of the Women in Tech taskforce is a significant step towards addressing the gender gap in the tech sector. The taskforce will play a crucial role in advising the government on how to boost diversity and economic growth in the industry, and in creating a more representative and inclusive tech sector. With its diverse range of founding members and its clear goals and objectives, the taskforce is well-placed to make a real difference in the tech sector. As technology secretary Liz Kendall noted, "When women are inspired to take on a role in tech and have a seat at the table, the sector can make more representative decisions, build products that serve everyone." The taskforce is a key part of this effort, and its work will be closely watched in the coming months and years.
