The GCS Women in IT Award recognises employers that
encourage diversity at work
The winner of this year's GCS Women in IT Award is the London
Borough of Barking and Dagenham (pictured above). With women making
up less than 20% of the IT workforce, the award acknowledges
employers who recognise the importance of diversity in the
workplace. It is also open to organisations able to demonstrate how
they have enhanced career paths for women in IT.
The award is just one element of a campaign by the BCS, through
the Women's Forum working group and BCSWomen's specialist group, to
ensure that more women recognise IT as a career option.
Wendy Hall, chair of the judges and chair of the Women's Forum
Strategic Panel, explains. "The medallists proved it is possible
for the profession to address the gender imbalance that exists in
the workplace. This is key not only for individual organisations,
but also for the industry as a whole, which must overcome the lack
of women in the profession and the skills that women bring to the
workforce.
"It is an important step towards encouraging employers to
address diversity within their IT departments and to ensure they
offer career opportunities open to and supportive of both
sexes.
"The quality of entrants this year was very high and selecting a
winner from the four was difficult they are all winners in their
own right for the fantastic work they have done in ensuring
diversity within their workplaces.
"However, in selecting the London Borough [of Barking and
Dagenham] as winner, we were impressed by its commitment to
generating true opportunities for women to progress their careers
through supportive training programmes, which cover the breadth of
the IT department."
Barking and Dagenham struck a chord with the judges because of
the success of its women's network and leadership initiative. This
was set up to support women in IT but proved so successful it was
adopted across the council, allowing women to network to meet their
personal development needs.
In addition, the council's family-friendly policies such as
opportunities to take secondments, work from home and make flexible
working arrangements, encourage women to remain in the department
and allow them to work around their family commitments and
childcare.
Each of the medallists earned its position through a commitment
to women in the IT workplace. ThoughtWorks adopts a positive
attitude to recruiting women, including a policy to recruit a 50:50
balance when employing graduates as well as encouraging applicants
returning from maternity or paternity leave to apply for positions
within the organisation.
West Dunbartonshire Council clearly demonstrated its
understanding of the issues faced by women in establishing a
work/life balance. Fifty-six per cent of its IT department is made
up of women, a figure that has been consistent since 2002. In
addition, six of the nine senior posts are held by women.
The council offers job sharing and flexible working options, all
of which have been well thought out, with a supportive working
environment for staff including briefing sessions, open door
policies, confidential support, counselling services, one-to-ones
and training and development opportunities.
Pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca has adopted a policy to ensure
an environment of diversity and innovation. The company impressed
the judges with its flexible working arrangements, parental
support, personal development and regular staff surveys.
Martin Smith, director of GCS, the IT recruitment specialist and
sponsor judge of the Women in IT award, is very proud of GCS's own
50:50 ratio of men and women. He says, "Each of the four
organisations undeniably demonstrated their focus and commitment to
create genuinely diverse workforces and enable each employee to
benefit from the opportunities presented to them in order to
realise their own full potential.
"Consequently it was a very hard task to choose an outright
winner. Our congratulations go to all of them, in particular the
London Borough of Barking and Dagenham."