Launch of Women in Tech taskforce

Women across Britain will be better supported to enter, stay and lead in the UK’s tech sector as Technology Secretary Liz Kendall launches the Women in Tech Taskforce.

The UK’s tech sector is thriving, but it isn’t working for everyone. Every year, the economy loses an estimated £2 – £3.5 billion because women leave the tech sector or change jobs due to barriers that should not exist.

Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Liz Kendall is taking decisive action to change that, convening the first meeting of the flagship Women in Tech Taskforce at the British Science Association yesterday (Monday 15 December). 

The taskforce is bringing together leading industry figures and experts from across the tech ecosystem. This first-of-its-kind initiative will advise government on how to better support diversity in tech and ensure the UK accesses the full talent pool, market opportunities, and innovation capacity needed for economic growth.

The need for change is clear. Men outnumber women 4 to 1 in computer science degrees. Women are less likely to enter tech, stay in the sector, or rise to leadership, not because they are less capable, but because systemic barriers hold them back. A 2023 Fawcett Society study found 20% of men in tech believe women are inherently less suited for these roles.

At the current pace, it will take 283 years for women to achieve equal representation in tech and female-founded startups receive 5.9x less funding than male-founded ones, despite delivering 35% higher returns on investment.

The Women in Tech Taskforce will identify and dismantle barriers to education, training, and career progression. It will develop practical solutions for government and industry to implement side by side, shape policy that encourages diversity and levels the playing field, and drive sustainable and inclusive economic growth by expanding opportunities for women across the UK.

Technology Secretary, Liz Kendall said

Technology should work for everyone, that is why I have established the Women in Tech Taskforce, to break down the barriers that still hold too many people back, and to partner with industry on practical solutions that make a real difference.

This matters deeply to me. When women are inspired to take on a role in tech and have a seat at the table, the sector can make more representative decisions, build products that serve everyone, and unlock the innovation and growth our economy needs.

In one of the first moves to establish the taskforce Anne-Marie Imafidon, founder of the STEMETTES, has been appointed as the Women in Tech Envoy and in this role will lead the taskforce alongside Secretary of State.

The taskforce will look to replicate the success of outstanding women-led UK tech companies, including Ivee, Starling Bank, Peanut, and Koru Kids, and will complement major DSIT initiatives designed to develop and support tech talent in the UK, such as the £187m TechFirst skills programme and the Regional Tech Booster programme.

Encouraging more women into tech careers starts in the classroom – and that’s why the government is standing up the landmark TechFirst skills programme to help more girls develop tech skills and consider a future career in tech. 

This comes as the government has announced the new curriculum will ensure every young person learns essential digital and AI skills – equipping them with the capabilities needed to open the doors to careers in tech. With the government’s wider support of the STEM Ambassadors Programme and the National Centre for Computing Education’s ‘I Belong’ programme, showing girls across the country the potential careers they could have in tech. The taskforce will build on these measures with plans to boost representation in the tech workforce.