Diversity in IT

The IT industry is notoriously male-dominated, with fewer than one in five IT professionals being female in many countries. For IT to serve all of society, IT employers need a more diverse workforce that is representative of gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, ability, skills and talent. Find out about the latest news and analysis on initiatives to increase the diversity of the IT workforce

News 25 Sep 2023
Care responsibilities excluding women from tech, says TTC

A lack of flexibility at work is causing many women to leave their jobs, or leave the sector entirely, according to research by Tech Talent Charter Continue Reading
News 25 Sep 2023
Visa to fund AI scholarships for underrepresented students in government scheme

Payments giant supports UK scheme to increase diversity in the data and artificial intelligence sector through funding Continue Reading

E-Zine 07 Aug 2018

How digital is driving golf to the connected course

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we find out how one of the most traditional of sports, golf, is turning to technology to engage a new audience and build the connected course. Industry legend Dame Stephanie ‘Steve’ Shirley discusses IT talent, diversity in tech and Brexit fears. And we assess the offerings of four of the biggest cloud storage providers, AWS, Azure, Google and IBM. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
Blog Post 06 Aug 2018

Fitbit suffers from period pains

A backlash against a Fitbit feature which allows women to track their period has highlighted the need for more diverse technology teams. In the summer of 2018 Fitbit added “female health tracking” ... Continue Reading
Blog Post 06 Aug 2018

Why should girls think about a career in tech?

In this guest blog post, student Abi Pearson describes how her work experience at industry body techUK made her consider a career in tech for the first time. I am a sixteen-year-old woman and I'm ... Continue Reading
Blog Post 31 Jul 2018

How to close the gender pay gap

In this guest blog post Jenny Kelly, client relationship manager - business partner at Computer Futures, talks about how companies can increase diversity in their organisation and end the gender ... Continue Reading
News 31 Jul 2018

Why Pinterest pinpointed features for the visually impaired

Ideas curation site has developed features for people with visual impairment. Its lead designer explains what has been changed and why it matters Continue Reading
Feature 27 Jul 2018

Interview: Dame Stephanie ‘Steve’ Shirley: 'Scared silly' by Brexit

Renowned entrepreneur and philanthropist Steve Shirley talks robots teaching children, and why Brexit has her “scared silly” Continue Reading
Blog Post 25 Jul 2018

Three ways leaders can increase diversity in tech

In this guest blog post, Vivian Chan, Founder and CEO of Sparrho, suggests three ways in which leaders can increase diversity in tech. Women make up the largest single economic force in the world, ... Continue Reading
Feature 25 Jul 2018

Future tech cannot be ‘defined by a particular population’, says CA executive

As new technologies are developed, companies could take the opportunity to hire more diversely to ensure offerings cater to a wider demographic Continue Reading
News 23 Jul 2018

Barclays to open tech hub in Glasgow

Banking group’s campus in Glasgow will host technology and operations teams using the latest technologies Continue Reading
Feature 20 Jul 2018

Spotlight on the Digital Career Institute, Berlin

Digital Career Institute is teaching refugees and unemployed people to do web development in Germany Continue Reading
Opinion 20 Jul 2018

Why #techmatters – the challenge for everyone in the UK tech community

The UK technology sector faces unprecedented challenges – and opportunities – but we must never lose sight of the fact that it exists to make people’s lives better Continue Reading
News 18 Jul 2018

Deloitte launches EMEA-wide initiative to close cyber security gender gap

Professional services organisation Deloitte expands its UK efforts to encourage more women into cyber security to cover the EMEA area Continue Reading
News 17 Jul 2018

Voting open: vote now for the most influential woman in UK technology 2018

Submit your vote for who you think deserves the title of most influential woman in UK technology 2018 Continue Reading
News 17 Jul 2018

Most Influential Women in UK IT 2018: Entrants to the Hall of Fame

Each year Computer Weekly recognises several great women from the IT industry and their lifetime achievements in its Most Influential Women in UK Tech Hall of Fame Continue Reading
News 17 Jul 2018

Code First: Girls teaches more women to code in UK than universities

Social enterprise partners with BT to offer more women the opportunity to learn tech skills Continue Reading
Feature 13 Jul 2018

Is the UK’s computing curriculum too focused on coding?

The government introduced its computing curriculum in 2014 to give young people the digital skills they need for the future, but is it fit for purpose? Continue Reading
News 12 Jul 2018

Half of young girls don’t think tech careers are exciting

Young women are put off of technology careers because they don’t perceive them to be exciting, according to research Continue Reading
News 12 Jul 2018

Brexit proposal calls for standards alignment and data sharing

Although the government’s Brexit whitepaper focuses on curbing immigration, collaboration on cyber crime, data sharing and services are among the bargaining chips Continue Reading
News 12 Jul 2018

Most influential women in UK tech: The 2018 longlist

Each year, Computer Weekly asks the technology industry to nominate who it thinks are the most influential women in UK tech. Here is the longlist of nominees for 2018 Continue Reading
News 09 Jul 2018

We need to take ‘black box’ out of AI to increase diversity, says panel

Many users of artificially intelligent systems have no understanding of what they do, making diverse and ethical development of these systems increasingly important Continue Reading
News 06 Jul 2018

CNet Training calls on datacentre sector for input on skill shortage research

Technology skills and education provider CNet Training is calling on the datacentre community to help inform its research into what is behind the sector's skill shortages Continue Reading
Blog Post 02 Jul 2018

The pipeline problem; how do we get more girls into technology?

In this guest post, Jo Morfee, co-founder of Innovate Her, discusses the UK's digital skills pipeline and how to encourage more girls to be part of it One of the main factors impeding technology ... Continue Reading
News 29 Jun 2018

Amazon develops transgender resources for employees

Online retail giant Amazon has launched a pack of resources to its UK employees to help make the workplace a more inclusive environment for transgender people Continue Reading
News 28 Jun 2018

Almost 30% of LGBT+ young people choose to avoid a Stem career

A large number of young people who identify as LGBTUA+ have avoided choosing a career in science, technology, engineering and maths because of discrimination fears Continue Reading
News 27 Jun 2018

TeenTech announces its 2018 award winners

Not-for-profit TeenTech announces the winners of its annual awards that showcase students who have used technology to solve real-world problems Continue Reading
Opinion 25 Jun 2018

Bridging the gender pay gap in the technology industry

Publication of gender pay gap figures for large organisations shows the tech sector has a long way to go to back up its rhetoric about equal opportunities Continue Reading
News 22 Jun 2018

BEIS and DfE not addressing Brexit impact on Stem skills, says PAC

A Public Accounts Committee report has raised concerns that government departments are not doing enough, quickly enough, to understand how Brexit will affect the supply of science, technology, engineering and maths skills in the UK Continue Reading
News 22 Jun 2018

Surge in number of women in IT contracting roles

The number of women taking IT contractor roles has increased by nearly a quarter in the past year Continue Reading
News 21 Jun 2018

Government sponsors diversity cyber academy

The UK government has awarded a grant for the establishment of a cyber academy to promote neurodiversity in the industry Continue Reading
News 19 Jun 2018

Tech firms partner to double female and BAME founders by 2020

A number of technology organisations have joined forces to develop an initiative that aims to increase the number of women and black, Asian and minority ethnic startup founders in the UK Continue Reading
News 18 Jun 2018

Girls taking key stage four computing subjects down 30,000 from 2014

The number of girls taking computing subjects at GCSE or equivalent level is significantly less than when the curriculum was introduced in 2014 Continue Reading
News 14 Jun 2018

Nominations open: Most Influential Women in UK Technology 2018

Computer Weekly is calling for nominations for its 2018 awards for the Most Influential Women in UK Technology Continue Reading
News 07 Jun 2018

IT spending reaches 10-year high as CIOs struggle with digital technology strategy

IT leaders have seen their budgets and headcounts rise for the first time in 10 years, but face challenges implementing their digital strategies Continue Reading
News 06 Jun 2018

Cyber attacks not sophisticated, says Just Eat CISO

The chief information security officer of Just Eat has challenged the perception that all cyber attacks are sophisticated and that it is impossible to fill cyber security jobs Continue Reading
Blog Post 04 Jun 2018

Stem gender pay gap can only be addressed by closing the skills gap

In this contributed blog post, Simon Jones, innovation director at Black Pepper, discusses how closing the tech skills gap can contribute towards closing the gender pay gap. Nearly fifty years ... Continue Reading
Blog Post 24 May 2018

It’s time to stop stalling on women in STEM

In this guest post, Sheila Flavell, COO of FDM Group discusses the problems faced by women in the Stem industries. The gender pay gap reporting process has left many companies facing difficult ... Continue Reading
Blog Post 22 May 2018

The sky is the limit for UK tech – as long as we embrace diversity

In this contributed blog post, Russ Shaw, founder of Tech London Advocates & Global Tech Advocates explains that the UK's tech ecosystem has the potential to be the best in the world, as long ... Continue Reading
News 21 May 2018

If we want equality in tech, we need to ‘evolve the conversation’, says panel

Achieving parity in the technology industry depends on moving away from an entirely gender-focused discussion, say experts Continue Reading
Blog Post 14 May 2018

Wise Conference 2018: The importance of calling out bad behaviour

The 2018 conference for Wise, a campaign for gender balance in technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem), highlighted some of the key failings of the Stem industries when it comes to gender ... Continue Reading
News 14 May 2018

Wise conference 2018: Tackling the female patent problem

Research by Wise found fewer than 10% of patents filed in the UK have involvement from women. At its annual conference in 2018, Wise set out to discuss why this is the case and how we can address it Continue Reading
Feature 03 May 2018

UK technology recruitment: Turn on the talent

The hottest tech skills will always be in short supply and UK businesses increasingly struggle to find competent people to fill digital roles. But do companies’ approach to recruitment need to change? Continue Reading
News 02 May 2018

Colt DCS pledges support for PwC-led push to boost number of women in tech

Carrier neutral datacentre provider, Colt DCS, is joining a number of other organisations in supporting PwC's push to make the tech sector a more diverse and inclusive place Continue Reading
E-Zine 01 May 2018

Making music with AI

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we look at how artificial intelligence is being used in the creative industries such as music and books, and ask whether AI can ever replace human creativity. TSB’s IT meltdown is symptomatic of the tech challenges facing UK banks – we examine the issues. And our latest buyer’s guide analyses the trends in big data. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
News 26 Apr 2018

Argos announces 150 new tech roles in the UK

Argos is recruiting an extra 150 IT professionals as part of its strategy to offer a better digital services to customers Continue Reading
News 19 Apr 2018

Oracle MBX: Oracle uses interns and grads to encourage others into Stem

Oracle has been working with interns and graduates to help train the next generation of tech experts and use them as role models for others Continue Reading
News 18 Apr 2018

PA Consulting announces winners of 2018 Raspberry Pi competition

The winners of the annual Raspberry Pi competition run by PA Consulting have been announced following a tech showcase Continue Reading
News 18 Apr 2018

Tech Talent Charter aims to tackle diversity outside of London

Not-for-profit organisation partners with Nominet in Oxford to make businesses aware of local initiatives and how to implement best practice Continue Reading
News 16 Apr 2018

Fintech sector increasingly attractive compared to traditional banking for IT professionals

Fintech job vacancies are growing, while less are being advertised in traditional banking sector companies Continue Reading
Feature 04 Apr 2018

Inside Red Hat’s open culture

The open source stalwart’s culture of transparency, openness and collaboration has been instrumental to its success as one of the world’s most successful software companies Continue Reading
News 03 Apr 2018

Can the government’s Institute of Coding help tackle the UK’s tech skills disconnect?

Many have claimed there is a gap between the tech skills taught by education providers and the skills needed by firms, but can the Institute of Coding help to bridge it? Continue Reading
News 03 Apr 2018

How Code First: Girls uses partnerships to teach girls to code

CEO of social enterprise Code First: Girls explains how partnerships with firms such as Trainline and Goldman Sachs are helping to reach the firm’s goal of teaching 20,000 women to code by 2020 Continue Reading
News 28 Mar 2018

Why does India have a higher percentage of women in tech than the UK?

Research by the Open University has assessed the differences between the women in IT landscape in the UK and India Continue Reading
News 22 Mar 2018

What would coders do in ethical grey areas?

Software developers are writing code that affects the lives of millions of people and how businesses are run, but what do coders think about some of the ethical questions they face? Continue Reading
News 21 Mar 2018

BT to create 1,300 apprenticeship and graduate tech roles

Roles in TV production, engineering, customer service and cyber security offered in telecoms giant’s apprenticeship and graduate scheme Continue Reading
News 19 Mar 2018

Australia pilots visa scheme to ease talent crunch

The Global Talent Scheme follows the government’s move to scrap the 457 visa, but industry watchers say smaller companies will struggle to meet its salary threshold Continue Reading
News 19 Mar 2018

Experian: How inclusion can solve more than IT problems

Paul Hill, head of global propositions development at Experian, talks about the many advantages and few challenges that Experian encountered when working with autistic technology consultants from Auticon Continue Reading
News 19 Mar 2018

School uses game-based initiative to find future cyber talent

Skinners’ Academy introduces government-backed Cyber Discovery programme to find cyber security professionals of the future Continue Reading
News 19 Mar 2018

Tech firms not “walking the walk” when it comes to diversity

Despite high-tech firms claiming to have a good track record in diversity, most do not consider it when making business decisions Continue Reading
News 15 Mar 2018

Coders feel responsible for impact of artificial intelligence on society

The technologists building artificial intelligence algorithms should take responsibility for the technology’s impact on society, a survey finds Continue Reading
News 15 Mar 2018

More than 60% of teen girls regret not studying Stem

Accenture study shows 62% of teenage girls regret not studying science, technology, engineering and maths subjects for longer Continue Reading
News 14 Mar 2018

Survey reveals what the coders building the future desire

Global survey reveals some of the attitudes of the world's software developers Continue Reading
News 09 Mar 2018

Booking.com annual tech awards focuses on creating visible role models

Booking.com has announced the winners of its 2018 Technology Playmaker Awards and emphasised the importance of having more visible female role models in the industry Continue Reading
E-Zine 08 Mar 2018

CW Europe: Germany’s Lemoncat takes catering to the cloud

Business catering startup Lemoncat has taken advantage of the affordable cost of living in Berlin and is shaking up the catering sector by harnessing the Amazon and Salesforce clouds. Also in this issue, read how Moscow’s government is taking advantage of high penetration of broadband and mobile internet to expand innovative services under the Russian capital’s smart city programme, and how organisations in the Netherlands still have much to do to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation. Continue Reading
Opinion 08 Mar 2018

Diversity matters – International Women’s Day 2018

The tech sector has a poor reputation for workplace diversity - if we are to take advantage of the opportunities of the digital economy, this has to change Continue Reading
News 01 Mar 2018

Middle East faces IT talent crunch

Countries in the Middle East are adopting the latest technologies at such a rapid rate that the region faces an IT skills shortage Continue Reading
News 01 Mar 2018

CA Technologies helps teachers learn more about future jobs

Technology firm CA Technologies has run its first Ambassador Academy to help teachers learn more about what skills will be needed for future jobs Continue Reading
News 28 Feb 2018

London mayor announces £7m programme to seek out digital talent

Programme launched in London to help attract more young people, women and BAME individuals into technology careers Continue Reading
News 28 Feb 2018

Almost half of young women don’t feel they have the skills for a tech career

Only a small percentage of young people who want to work in technology are women, with 45% of young women claiming they don’t have the skills for tech Continue Reading
News 28 Feb 2018

AI must develop for the greater good and cut government admin

A group of experts explored the issues of UK policy and funding in artificial intelligence at a recent seminar in London. We report on the discussion Continue Reading
News 22 Feb 2018

Schoolkids want social media giants to do more to stop online bullying

Schoolchildren feel that social media companies such as Facebook and Instagram can do much more to protect them from online abuse Continue Reading
News 22 Feb 2018

Makers Academy: Helping firms to address diversity recruitment woes

Training provider Makers Academy has helped firms such as Tesco recruit work-ready and diverse software engineering talent Continue Reading
13 Feb 2018

Booking.com’s focus on women in tech

Travel comparison website Booking.com has partnered with two universities to offer grants to women looking to go into tech careers Continue Reading
13 Feb 2018

Interview: Tackling gender diversity could solve the skills gap, says Burbidge

Tackling the lack of gender diversity in the tech industry could help close the skills gap, but there is a long way to go to solve either, says Eileen Burbidge Continue Reading
E-Zine 13 Feb 2018

On the path to diversity in tech

In this week's Computer Weekly, after the UK celebrated 100 years of women's suffrage, we look at what more needs to be done to encourage greater diversity in IT to help tackle the on-going skills shortage, and we hear from female industry leaders. We examine how mobile app developers can improve security. And we look at the role of containers in storage architecture. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
News 12 Feb 2018

Everywoman forum 2018: The dangers of non-diverse artificial intelligence

Experts at the 2018 Everywoman forum spoke about the pros of role models and cons of an artificially intelligent future designed solely by men Continue Reading
News 12 Feb 2018

FDM everywoman in Technology: 2018 winners announced

Women’s network everywoman has announced the winners of its 2018 everywoman in Technology awards, sponsored by FDM Continue Reading
News 09 Feb 2018

Brexit with no deal unthinkable for UK tech, Lords committee told

The damage that leaving the EU without a deal will reap on the UK tech sector is unthinkable, a House of Lords committee has been told Continue Reading
News 08 Feb 2018

Interview: Tackling gender diversity could solve the skills gap, says Burbidge

Tackling the lack of gender diversity in the tech industry could help close the skills gap, but there is a long way to go to solve either, says Eileen Burbidge Continue Reading
News 07 Feb 2018

Businesses struggle to get IT staff as visa limits are reached quickly

UK businesses are increasingly looking for skilled professionals from outside the EU as certain visa caps prove too low Continue Reading
News 04 Feb 2018

Government backs national cyber policy and strategy competition

London is to host a national cyber policy and strategy competition, which has the backing of government, industry and academia Continue Reading
News 30 Jan 2018

UK government signs Tech Talent Charter diversity initiative

The government has committed to sign the diversity initiative Tech Talent Charter in an aim to close the gender diversity gap in the technology industry Continue Reading
E-Zine 30 Jan 2018

CW ASEAN: AI puzzle coming together

Forward-looking organisations in ASEAN are embracing artificial intelligence (AI), but mixed access to connectivity and a lack of skills and understanding are holding back wider adoption. In this month’s CW ASEAN, we take a look at how ASEAN is embracing AI and what is being done to shore up AI capabilities and adoption across the region. Plus, read about RHB Bank’s use of chatbots to help consumers apply for personal loans and how a supplier of engineering services is counting on a cloud-based human resource management system to improve efficiency. Continue Reading
E-Zine 30 Jan 2018

Davos debates global tech risks

In this week's Computer Weekly, world leaders at Davos discuss the growing reliance on technology and how to tackle the political and economic threats of the digital age. Our latest buyer's guide examines mobile app development. And we look at the biggest challenges facing CIOs in 2018 - including digital skills, automation, innovation and diversity. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
News 29 Jan 2018

BETT 2018: Children need to grow into more than ‘digital consumers’, says apprenticeships minister

Anne Milton told the BETT 2018 education technology show that to fill the skills gap, children need to grow up to be more than just consumers of digital Continue Reading
News 25 Jan 2018

Robots are needed to manage the automation robots

The next decade will see robots transform from invisible forces obeying our commands to lifelike objects interacting with humans on a daily basis Continue Reading
News 18 Jan 2018

Booking.com’s focus on women in tech

Travel comparison website Booking.com has partnered with two universities to offer grants to women looking to go into tech careers Continue Reading
News 18 Jan 2018

Tech has ‘disconnect’ between the skills students are taught and the abilities firms need

Many tech graduates face unemployment because their skills do not meet employers’ requirements, say experts at Change Catalyst’s London Tech Inclusion event Continue Reading
News 17 Jan 2018

CIO interview: Tom Read, CDIO, Ministry of Justice

The MoJ’s chief digital and information officer, Tom Read, is keen on doing his bit to tear down the Whitehall silos, creating collaborative, simple and effective digital services for staff and the public Continue Reading
Feature 15 Jan 2018

Four CIO trends to watch in 2018

As automation becomes more popular, bringing with it plenty of opportunities, 2018 is all about investing in in-house skills and innovation, with a focus on equality and flexibility Continue Reading
News 12 Jan 2018

Computer science is fastest-growing subject for undergraduates

Computer science is the fastest-growing subject for undergraduate intake in UK universities, according to 2017 statistics Continue Reading
News 05 Jan 2018

London attracted record tech investment in 2017

London-based tech firms received record levels of venture capital funding last year Continue Reading
Video 05 Jan 2018

UKtech50 2017: Recruiting the right talent for your organisation

A panel of IT leaders discuss how they go about identifying the talent they need within their organisations Continue Reading
News 03 Jan 2018

‘Cast the net broader’ for diverse tech talent, says digital minister

The minister of state for digital, Matt Hancock, told a diversity and inclusion event that the technology industry should look to use under-represented groups to fill talent gaps Continue Reading
Opinion 03 Jan 2018

Building on the UK tech sector’s momentum in 2018

The UK’s digital and tech industry made great progress in 2017, and the government aims to further its support in 2018, says digital minister Continue Reading
News 29 Dec 2017

Top 10 artificial intelligence stories of 2017

Artificial intelligence is being used more and more across various industries, but there still issues around the technology. Here are Computer Weekly’s top 10 AI stories for 2017 Continue Reading
News 19 Dec 2017

Top 10 enterprise IT in the Nordics stories in 2017

The Nordic region might be best known in IT circles for its startup communities – but it has much more to offer Continue Reading
E-Zine 14 Dec 2017

CW Europe: Eurosport pumps up digital technology for cycling fans

Read how Eurosport is using a novel combination of technology and information to develop immersive viewing experiences for sports fans across a range of platforms. Also find out how Russian state bank Vneshekonombank expects to become a vehicle for a blockchain revolution in the country’s public sector, and what the European Parliament's approval of a new electronic system to store biometric information might mean for UK citizens after Brexit. Continue Reading
E-Zine 12 Dec 2017

The 50 most influential people in UK IT 2017

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we reveal our annual list of the 50 most influential people in UK IT, and talk to this year’s winner – Mayank Prakash, chief digital and information officer at the Department for Work and Pensions – about the challenges and opportunities of digital government. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
News 12 Dec 2017

GDS staff survey reveals concerns over leadership and evidence of bullying and harassment

Employee survey at Government Digital Service shows staff enjoy their work but have concerns about senior management – plus complaints over discrimination, bullying and harassment Continue Reading
News 11 Dec 2017

Workers should embrace robots, not fear them, says Labour deputy

Labour deputy leader to say workers need not fear robots taking their jobs, but welcome the opportunities they will bring Continue Reading