Member Article

Technology: Not for girls?

Three female software developers from North Tyneside are challenging the gender stereotype within the UK tech sector where only 17 per cent of IT professionals are women.

Web developer Becky Osselton, trainee developer Sheila Davison and software development apprentice Charlotte McAlpine are appealing to women in the North East’s IT sector to open up about their careers in an attempt to underline the vast number of opportunities available to both genders.

The women from Wolf Group, a software development firm based in North Shields, are encouraging females in the region’s digital sector to participate in their blog series launched to challenge the industry’s gender stereotype. The blog series is an attempt to engage more women in technology while promoting it as a genuine career option for individuals of any age, sex or background.

The developers, two of whom began their software careers at the IT consultancy’s training academy, plan to launch their blog series in conjunction with International Women’s Day, which takes place on Tuesday, March 8 celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women around the world.

Charlotte, Wolf Group’s youngest female developer is one of a number of women who work across web development, business analysis and data science roles, and has seen for herself the scope of opportunity a career in software development can provide.

Charlotte said: “It’s an exciting time to be entering the tech sector in the North East. In this digital age every imaginable industry has an IT requirement, so the potential for career development is almost unlimited.

“For me the gender underrepresentation in technology has only urged me further to pursue a career as a developer, and International Women’s Day seems like the perfect opportunity for our appeal to gain traction.”

Wolf Group specialises in IT consultancy and bespoke software development for industries including manufacturing, finance and healthcare and were recently awarded North Tyneside Council’s Apprenticeship Standard accreditation in recognition of their commitment to high quality apprenticeships.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Wolf Group .