develop x Tech She Can

As part of our new financial year, I’m absolutely delighted to announce that develop has signed a strategic partnership agreement with the charity, Tech She Can.

But what is Tech She Can? Why is it so important in our industry and why is it so close to our hearts here at develop?

I’ve had a go at trying to put this into words….

Last year, develop agreed a partnership with local school, Canon Barnett Primary. I personally felt this was the most impactful thing we’d done for years. It meant that for every placement we made as a company, we donated money to the school which was ringfenced purely to purchase STEM toys for their children.

The results were amazing! The school set up a STEM room and a club for students to immerse themselves in the technology that we had provided. The uptake by the girls in the school was as strong as the boys and we ignited a real passion for STEM subjects and learning by taking our clients into the school and by putting on play session for the teachers (these sessions may or may not have involved wine, I couldn’t possibly comment!).

Our aim was to help the pipeline issues our industry undoubtedly faces as well as supporting children in our local community in the City of London. The Headteacher at the school, Sarah is an inspiration and someone that is clearly passionate about this subject in the same way we are.

But we wanted to do more. Why and with whom?

Technology is a vital part of modern society and is rapidly changing the way we live and work. However, the industry is still largely male-dominated, and women are vastly underrepresented in tech-related careers. As recruitment specialists we’re often asked for female candidates or ‘diverse’ candidates which isn’t something we can morally or legally provide proactively. What this type of request does is demonstrate a systemic problem which I believe starts early on in life. It requires education.

This is where Tech She Can comes in – a charity dedicated to empowering women and increasing gender diversity in the technology industry.

Founded in 2018, Tech She Can is a coalition of over 100 companies committed to tackling the gender imbalance in tech. The charity's mission is to equip women with the skills and confidence they need to pursue careers in technology and to encourage companies to foster inclusive and diverse work environments. develop is now proud to say it is one of these companies and we’ll do everything we can to drive the message forward.

What kind of impact has the charity already had?

Increasing Awareness: In a survey conducted by Tech She Can, 89% of girls aged 11-18 said they would consider a career in technology. This is a significant increase from previous years, demonstrating the positive impact Tech She Can is having on raising awareness and inspiring young women to pursue tech careers.

Changing Perceptions: According to research by PwC, 78% of students aged 16-18 believe that men are better suited for technology-related roles. However, after participating in Tech She Can's activities, 90% of students reported feeling more confident in their ability to pursue a career in tech, and 76% said they now believe that men and women are equally suited for technology roles.

Encouraging Companies: Over 100 companies have joined Tech She Can, committing to improving gender diversity in their own organisations and across the industry. These companies have pledged to implement measures such as unconscious bias training, mentoring programs, and flexible working arrangements to support women in tech.

Empowering Women: Tech She Can's initiatives have directly impacted over 9,000 girls and women, equipping them with the skills and confidence they need to pursue tech-related careers. Additionally, the charity's online resources and events have reached over 50,000 people, providing valuable information and insights on how to succeed in the tech industry.

In a male-dominated industry, Tech She Can is leading the way in promoting gender diversity and empowering women in tech. The charity's initiatives are having a measurable impact, changing perceptions and inspiring young women to pursue tech careers. With over 100 committed companies and thousands of empowered women, Tech She Can is making a real difference in the tech industry.

As a father (and established taxi driver) to a little boy and a little girl I'm passionate that tech is a potential path for both of them and that they should be afforded the same opportunities to get there.

We are very proud to be strategic partners of the charity and we’ll do everything we can to be the right kind of ambassadors. We want to drive gender diversity forward in a meaningful way and I sincerely believe that given our reach as a recruitment business into hundreds of tech focused businesses that we can do just that.

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If you’d like to hear more about develop’s partnership with Tech She Can or speak to me about how your company might be able to get involved, please get in touch on joey@developrec.net