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Women In Tech
Women are still a minority in modern day tech with only 33% of UK tech jobs filled by women (Tech Nation 2025).
This figure varies by job type and industry. From around one in twenty software engineers, to around one in three IT Project/Programme Managers, Web Designers/ Developers and IT Operations Technicians. By industry, female representation is worst amongst manufacturing firms where women accounted for just 11% of those in IT roles, with the lowest figures in Construction.
Promoting Diversity and Inclusion
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has launched initiatives aimed to boost female participation in tech through supporting girls and women at every stage of their careers. These include attracting more girls into considering tech as a future career, a £4m placement programme to help women in tech advance their careers, and a pilot ‘returnship’ scheme supporting those re-entering jobs after a career break.
The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Liz Kendall said: “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 10 years’ time.”
The £4m tech jobs programme will initially see at least 300 women gain a minimum of six-month placements in tech roles.
The returnship programme will be targeted at helping female software developers who have been away from work for 18 months or more and will begin as a pilot scheme to fill senior government tech roles in the Home Office and Ministry of Justice.
To help inspire girls into following a career in tech, DSIT is partnering with IBM to deliver the new TechFirst Girls Competition, due to launch later this year. Aimed at 12- and 13-year-old girls, the competition will see them use technologies such as AI and coding to think creatively and problem-solve to compete in challenges.
How Does AI Impact Women In Tech?
These measures build on the work of the Women in Tech Taskforce. Launched towards the end of last year by Liz Kendall, the taskforce brings together female leaders from across industry, charities, academia and education to advise the government on boosting diversity in tech and driving economic growth.
The taskforce is now launching a call for evidence to examine how the government can better support women into the future around emerging technologies and AI, and the inherent biases built into these technologies, which continue to disproportionately impact women. Findings show that AI tools used in recruitment have been found to favour male names nearly five times more than female names.
Anna Brailsford MBE, CEO of Code First Girls and Women in Tech Taskforce member, said: “The UK’s ambition to lead in technology will only be realised if more women can see a clear and supported pathway into the sector from non-tech backgrounds. At Code First Girls, we see every day how access to the right skills and support can transform lives, unlocking potential and more fulfilling careers.
"As a member of the Women in Tech Taskforce, I want to see individual success stories turn into systemic change, ensuring many more women can follow in their footsteps.”
Why Does Diversity Matter?
According to the Diversity Matters report by McKinsey, diversity correlates with better financial performance - companies in the top quartile for gender diversity are, on average, 15% more likely to have above average financial returns. Significantly the reverse is also true.
The Diversity Matters report highlights that women are still under-represented at the top tier of tech roles, where women account for just 27% of FTSE 100 CIO positions. Yet companies with female leadership teams outperformed less gender-diverse companies by a staggering 48%.
The Barriers Faced by Female Entrepreneurs
The UK will only be able to meet the goal of being a tech superpower if women in tech are supported and their entrepreneurial talent is encouraged to start high-growth businesses.
According to the British Business Bank (BBB), for every £1 of equity investment in the UK, all-female founder teams received 2p, all-male founder teams received 84p, and mixed-gender teams 14p. Fewer women apply for funding – and when they do, they are less likely to receive it, and tend to receive significantly less than men.
On top of access to finance, which is the biggest obstacle faced by female entrepreneurs when trying to launch a start-up, are challenges from societal norms, imposter syndrome and a lack of support and mentoring.
However, with more and more women deciding to start their own businesses, a whole host of networks have been created catering exclusively to female entrepreneurs. Some of these are:
AllBright
https://www.allbrightcollective.com/
AccelerateHER
British Association of Women Entrepreneurs
Everywoman
Female Founders Forum
https://www.tenentrepreneurs.org/aboutfff
Female Founders Rise
https://femalefoundersrise.com/
Fund Her North
HealthTech Women
STEMettes
Women In Tech UK
We Are Tech Women
Paving the way for future generations, notable female tech pioneers include: Dame Stephanie Shirley, Dr Sue Black, Martha Lane Fox, Eileen Burbage, Tabitha Goldstraub, Belinda Parmar, Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon and many others. All have made significant contributions to the UK tech sector, breaking barriers for women in tech.
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