October dubbed 'Girls in IT' month

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Today sees the launch of a new campaign to encourage women into the IT workplace.

E-skills UK, the skills council for business and IT, has dubbed October “Girls in IT” month and has dedicated its careers website to bringing women in technology into the spotlight.

The organisation claimed only 17 per cent of IT professionals and just 15 per cent of those taking computing degrees were women.

Karen Price, chief executive (CEO) of e-skills UK, said: “Our research shows that the IT professional workforce needs over half a million new entrants over the next five years to keep up with demand. So, for almost half the population to be shunning the prospect of a career in IT represents a major threat to the UK’s future prosperity.”

She added: “Now, more than ever, the sector needs to be attracting the best and the brightest young talent that the country has to offer, particularly girls, who we know consistently outperform boys at school in IT related subjects.”

The career website run by e-skills, Big Ambition, will feature interviews with successful women in the industry and provide tips for getting into technology jobs. It also will aim to encourage discussion around the lack of women in IT and how to balance it out.

“Women have a great deal to offer to IT employers and the IT profession has a lot of opportunities for women in return,” said Maggie Berry, managing director of womenintechnology.co.uk and member of the Girls in IT steering group.

“It is important to bring the community together to collaborate on this issue so that girls can find out how rewarding a career in IT can be.”

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