The City of London Corporation has launched the “Women Pivoting to Digital Taskforce” to address the critical underrepresentation of women in digital fields. Backed by prominent companies like IBM, Accenture, and Salesforce, the taskforce aims to join forces with governmental bodies, non-profit organizations, and industry groups to assist women from non-technical backgrounds in transitioning to digital roles, including areas such as AI, data management, cybersecurity, and IT.
Sheridan Ash, founder and CEO of Tech She Can and co-chair of the taskforce, stressed the significance of this initiative in narrowing the persistent gaps in the tech workforce. “There is an urgent need to enhance growth and productivity in the UK by tackling our technology skills deficit. Enhancing the skills and diversity within the technology workforce is essential for the UK to grow more competitive and innovative,” remarked Ash. “The technology skills gap in the UK could be addressed significantly if the number of women in technology roles matched that of men.”
The taskforce is designed to assist employers in the financial, professional services, and tech sectors in enhancing workforce skills while equipping organizations with resources to recruit women from non-technical backgrounds. It is set to operate for a period of two years, concentrating on women with five or more years of experience in unrelated fields, helping them transition into digital careers.
Comprising 65 experts from various sectors across the UK, the taskforce is dedicated to digital innovation and diversity, managing different workstreams. Laura Faulkner, Director of Business Services at Nationwide, articulated the initiative’s objectives: “By fostering cross-industry collaboration, we aim to cultivate a strong pipeline of female talent, uncovering and promoting opportunities for women to enter digital roles.”
The necessity for this initiative is highlighted by data from the Alan Turing Institute, which indicates that less than 25% of individuals employed in AI and data science are women. Additionally, a report from Tech Talent Charter and Code First Girls forecasts that without intervention, there will be just one woman for every 128 tech positions by 2025.
Karen Blake, co-chief executive of Tech Talent Charter, noted, “As women remain consistently underrepresented in specialized digital positions across various sectors, our mission is clear: to harness their diverse capabilities for innovation. As we kick off this two-year initiative, we’re committed to closing the gender gap and empowering women to succeed in the digital era.”
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