Local Girls Inspired by Female Technology Leaders to Take Up Career in IT
Reading – UK – 22nd June 2007 - A career in IT is not just for boys and ‘computer geeks’. This is the message behind DigiGirlz, an event being held exclusively for 12-15 year old girls from across schools in Reading/Berkshire today, designed to encourage more females into the IT industry.
Statistics show that the number of women employed in technology-related industries is falling, with a mere 17% of students starting computer science degrees being female – the majority of these from overseas.1 Today, the organisers of the DigiGirlz event hope to improve the image of technology in the eyes of young females in the region; this forms part of wider efforts to encourage more women into the industry.
DigiGirlz is being hosted by Microsoft in partnership with Computer Clubs for Girls (CC4G) – an initiative run by e-skills, the UK Sector Skills Council - to host the event at Microsoft’s office headquarters in Reading. The aim of DigiGirlz is to give 12-15 year-old girls a glimpse of the exciting and creative aspects of the technology industry, and provide them with a unique opportunity to meet some of the UK’s female technology leaders. Highlights of the day’s events include:
| • | A tour of the Microsoft campus to view the latest state-of-the-art technology gadgets, games and mobile devices, as well as a chance to see some robots in action from the “First Lego League” |
| • | Talks from women who have built successful careers in IT, including Andrea Kalavsky, the ‘Systems Magician’, head of IT at Innocent Drinks, and Philippa Snare, who leads Microsoft’s Windows Live business |
| • | Creative workshop sessions giving girls the chance to make their own promotional video |
| • | Opportunity for interactive career planning discussions with women in the industry |
| • | Chance to hear real experiences from Microsoft’s female graduate and student intern community |
Philippa Snare, Microsoft’s Windows Live Business Group lead, commented: “A career in IT is something that seems to appeal more to men than to women, but those of us who are in the industry find it a dynamic and exciting area to be in. I hope that today inspires some of the girls to think about the technology sector as a possible career path for them.”
Karen Price, CEO of e-skills UK, reinforced this, saying: “Technology is one of the fastest growing, and most exciting, sectors in the UK. Yet negative and outdated perceptions about IT persist, particularly among young women. We must overcome this. Less than one in five of today’s IT workforce is female; and only 18% of those choosing to study IT-related degrees are women. Through initiatives such as the award-winning Computer Clubs for Girls for 10 to 14 year olds and Microsoft’s DigiGirlz day, e-skills UK and its partners are helping to transform the attitude of a generation of young girls to technology. Over half of all secondary schools in England are already involved with CC4G, with more than 92,000 girls benefiting across the UK.”
Steve Beswick, director of education, Microsoft UK, added: “Microsoft is committed to playing its part in redressing the gender imbalance in the IT industry. In order for the IT industry to fill its skills gap, it needs to recruit both women as well as men. This imbalance is undoubtedly resulting in a large pool of untapped talent, and Microsoft wants to change this. The DigiGirlz day will hopefully engage and encourage girls to think more positively about a career in IT.”
DigiGirlz is part of a wider, global programme for Microsoft, with similar events taking place across the world to address the gender imbalance in the IT industry.
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| 1 | Office of National Statistics (ONS) show number of women employed in technology industries fell from 27% in 1997 to 21% in 2005. |
