Diversity driver Tech Talent Charter secures new government funding

The Tech Talent Charter (TTC) has secured £97k in a second round of Government funding to sign up more businesses.

The Charter, set up to improve gender diversity in the UK tech workforce, will look to grow from 200 signatories to 500 by 2019.

The latest raft of investment brings the initiative’s total funding to date to £170k.

Research from Tech City UK has found that one million tech workers are needed by 2020.

The TTC said female workers have a vital role to play in helping the UK maintain a strong role in technological and digital innovation. But their representation in the sector is disproportionately low, with just 17% of tech and telco workers being women.

Among the Charter’s signatories are broadcaster Channel 4, software giant Cisco, job site Monster, the Royal Bank of Scotland and Metropolitan Police.

Tech Talent Charter CEO Debbie Forster commented: “We are delighted to have the [Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport] both as a funder and a partner in this next phase of TTC growth.

“With this funding we will be able not just to grow from 200 to 500 companies by 2019 but also to ensure we are a fully national programme, extending our regional work as we break outside the London bubble.”

Sinead Bunting, VP of marketing in Europe at Monster and co-founder of the Tech Talent Charter, commented: “We created the Tech Talent Charter to help companies create a level playing field for women in tech and to bring about real change and success for our digital economy.

“We’ve come a long way since we first started out, and it’s hugely rewarding to see the amount of signatories we already have on board. We look forward to welcoming many more as we continue our important work.”

Culture Minister Margot James said: “Diversity is not just a moral imperative, it also makes good business sense.

“We are more than doubling our support for this essential and timely initiative to put the UK at the forefront of tackling the gender imbalance in the tech workforce as we work to build a Britain which is fit for the future.”

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