UK Establishes Tech Equality Taskforce

15 prominent women in the UK founded a task force to address gender disparities in the tech sector. The government claims that these gaps cost the economy between £2 billion and £3.5 billion each year.

The government-led Women in Tech Taskforce was established to develop ways to encourage women into the sector, but also to stay once there. Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, said the group was established to break down the barriers that still hold too many people back.

She said the task force would work with industry to conceive practical solutions. “When women are inspired to take on a tech role and have a seat at the table, the sector can make more representative decisions.”

The government stated the task force is targeting an imbalance that sees men outnumber women by four-to-one in terms of having computer science degrees. It stated “systemic barriers” restrict women, and it would take 283 years to achieve equality without action.

The task force is to have the government’s ear regarding methods to boost diversity in the tech industry by removing barriers to education, training, and career progression. The work is expected to complement an AI and digital skills curriculum that the country is deploying in schools.