A programme aimed at tackling gender disparity in the tech and digital industries will launch in Manchester marking a significant milestone for the initiative as it embarks on its biggest year yet.
Girl Tech, designed and delivered by social value specialists Ahead Partnership, will host its first-ever Manchester event on Friday, June 6, as part of a series of digital insight days taking place across five major UK cities. The initiative aims to open up career opportunities for young women, particularly those with limited exposure to the tech and innovation sectors.
Now in its eighth year, Girl Tech connects young women with leading employers and female role models in the digital space, helping them gain a better understanding of the sector and their potential place within it.
The move into Manchester comes amid stark figures from Women in Tech, which show that women make up just 29% of the UK tech workforce and that more than three quarters of those have experienced gender bias or discrimination in their careers.
By targeting students ahead of key decisions like GCSE subject selection, the initiative hopes to drive early engagement and create meaningful career pathways for young women who might otherwise be unaware of the opportunities available in tech.
The event also provides a platform for participating businesses and mentors to develop as leaders, while investing in a more diverse future talent pipeline.
Results from previous events underscore its impact. At Girl Tech Leeds earlier this year, 94% of attendees said they now understood the skills needed to work in digital, up from 67% beforehand. Meanwhile, 88% said they would consider a digital career, showing a clear appetite when the right role models and environments are in place.
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Suzie Bell, Programme Manager at Ahead Partnership, said: “Against increasing resistance and challenges to DE&I on an international scale, it is so encouraging to see some of the best and the brightest in tech and innovation banding together to secure better opportunities for the next generation of female talent, in what is set to be our biggest celebration of Girl Tech to date.
“We have seen our young participants grow significantly in their understanding and interest in the opportunities on offer within tech and digital through the programme, as well as within their own self- confidence through meeting successful women who have each had unique paths into the sector.
“We are so proud to deliver this initiative for young women in Manchester. We know how meaningful this work has been for all of its participants to date, and cannot understate its impact for young women across the city.
“We look forward to continuing to collaborate with our partners in securing better opportunities for all young people, and creating a more diverse, and suitably skilled workforce of the future.”
This year’s programme is supported by several long-standing partners, including Netcompany. Kate Watson, Social Value Lead at Netcompany, said: It’s been a privilege to support Girl Tech from its origins to now, and we are particularly proud to have played a part in its journey of growth – now changing prospects for young women in London and all across the country.
“We continue to witness a real growth in interest and engagement with tech and digital career opportunities among those who participate in the programme – an appetite which is vital if we want to meet the future demand of our rapidly evolving sector.
“With the rise of AI, increased global investment in technology, and constant industry change, equipping young people with the digital skills to thrive has never been more essential. Ensuring that all young people have access to the opportunities within our sector is key – and that’s why outreach and intervention is so important.
“Only 5% of leadership roles in tech are held by women. As business leaders, we have a responsibility to change this narrative and commit to paving a more inclusive path for the next generation, and for our industry alike.”
Netcompany said its own approach to improving female representation includes inclusive leadership training, positive action in recruitment, and employee-led networks driving internal policy change.
