How businesses can harness tech’s transformative power to deliver diversity
Technology has the power to change economies and societies across the world. That has been recognised by our Government in its plan to cement the UK as a science and technology superpower by 2030. It further demonstrated this commitment during this month’s Spring Budget. Introducing, for example, a £1.8bn package to support cutting-edge companies, an annual £1m prize for ground-breaking AI research and an extended free childcare scheme which has more than doubled in a bid to better encourage and support working parents.
However, the UK is failing to address a lack of diversity in the technology industry, especially in areas such as cloud computing, engineering, data science and AI. According to the United Nations and UN Women, women make-up only 22% of AI workers globally. In the UK, just 23% of the people working in STEM roles are female, and only 5% of leadership positions are held by women. (PwC)
One significant lever we can pull to change this is lifelong learning and accelerated investment in upskilling. By equipping female talent with the right capabilities for the current and future workplace, we can help to create equitable, diverse and resilient businesses.
Digital skills matter now
Research commissioned by Salesforce found that UK workers rank digital skills as the most important skill for the current and future workplace.
That same research highlighted a persistent and worrying skills gap. Despite their importance, more than a quarter [27%] of UK workers do not feel confident in any digital capabilities. Particularly concerning is that just 7% feel confident using AI.
Accessibility is a key issue. Our research highlights globally that 76% of workers don’t feel they have the resources needed to learn digital skills. Beyond this, there is a perception - especially for women - that digital skills are much harder to access and learn than they really are. Many people think they are barred from technology because they have no formal digital or technology education.
I see myself as proof that you can succeed in tech without this, one keyboard tap at a time. Talent is everywhere but the opportunities need to be made much clearer.
Supporting a future female generation
If we fail to act now, we risk failing the future generations of talent. Our research also found that schoolchildren ranked digital skills as only the seventh most important aspect of the 2030 workplace. What’s more, whilst computer science was found to be the fifth dream job for boys, it wasn’t even in the top 10 for girls.
This lack of representation can only be addressed if we begin with school-age children, showing girls, in particular, the importance of digital. Parents are part of the solution. They can help to promote STEM to their children and ensure that careers in tech are viewed in the same positive light as those in medicine and law - as is the case in countries like India.
Increasing the participation of young women in the tech workforce - in all workforces - is one of the biggest opportunities we have to solve a broader skills crisis. Today’s economies demand digital transformation to create a more resilient, productive and innovative business landscape. One that can unlock future economic growth and possibility.
Effective government and business collaboration
Now, more than ever, Government and business need to work closely together to identify and create the further training, upskilling and support programmes that will create the diverse and dynamic workforce of tomorrow.
Salesforce is urging UK business and government to establish a national online digital skills platform that brings together existing programmes from industry, training providers and educational institutions, and highlights where people can access training.
It’s not just about coding and building apps. Trailhead is a free and gamified way to learn in bite-sized chunks in your own time, making it easy for those with flexible needs to participate. It takes individuals from a low level of technical knowledge to a Salesforce certification across a whole range of skillsets in as little as six months.
It’s important to recognise that not enough people have the knowledge or confidence to begin with. All of us need to work together to showcase the exciting range of career opportunities that exist and how to grasp them.
The future is now
The successful businesses of the future will be those that inspire, nurture and empower female talent.
Having the right systems and processes in place to drive shared accountability, and to embed a new workplace culture of equitable behaviour, is important. Switched-on businesses will also consider their recruitment strategies and broader employee experience.
I would argue that upskilling, however, is our number one priority if we are to remove barriers to representation more quickly. A determined, collaborative focus on skills will pave the way for women and girls to fully harness technology’s power and truly transform UK business and growth. That’s a goal we should all aspire to.
techUK is marching forward to close the tech gender gap in 2023. Throughout March, coinciding with International Women’s Day (IWD 2023) on 8 March, we are exploring how we embrace equitable workplaces. The UN’s theme for IWD 2023 focuses on Digital for All or DigitALL, and we are proud to support this.
For more information, please visit our Women in Tech hub.
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