Women in the Tech Industry

The tech industry is one of the fastest growing in the world. Jobs within this sector in the UK are increasing year on year. This is not surprising, considering digitalisation across however, it is also one of the least diverse. Arch Apprentices 2018, report that currently, women make up only 17% of UK employees in the tech industry, and only one in six school leavers starting a degree in computer science was female.

With the tech industry growing so quickly - why do we see such a low representation of females choosing to train in the sector? Clare McDonald (Computer Weekly), Rachel Burnham (Blenheim Chalcot) and Harry Gooding (Arch Apprenticeships), discussed the challenges women face within the tech industry, and the various ways they could be overcome.

Clare highlighted that a main issue could be the culture within the industry. Mcdonald studied Computer Science at University, and ultimately decided not to pursue a career in the industry due to feeling “isolated” on her course (Arch Apprentices, 2018). It was determined that female mentors could be an effective way to tackle this issue, as having a figure to turn to and observe is so important in the early stages in a career. It’s the responsibility of caregivers, employers, and educators to ensure that the Tech industry is an all inclusive one. 

Claire, Rachel and Harry theorised that there are a number of steps that can be taken to address this, such as employers signing up to the 30% club (committing to achieving a minimum of 30% women on FTSE-100 boards), ensuring job titles aren’t gender bias, and businesses networking with other organisations that are trying to achieve the same goal.

Whether you agree with the above or not - the facts don't lie. There is a staggeringly low number of women within the tech industry, and it's down to caregivers, employers, and educators to take steps to ensure that the industry is an all inclusive one. If you're an employer in the Tech industry and want to engage more females, or you are interested in getting the industry but would like some support, get in touch with our friendly team today using the details below.


01245 392075 | enquiries@theaimgroup.co.uk