Women and non-binary staff make up 29% of UK tech employees but only 21% of senior tech role holders, according to Government data.
The figures were published as part of the work of the Women in Tech Taskforce, previously led by DSIT, which works to address systemic barriers that prevent women from entering and leading in the tech sector.
Amid Ada Lovelace Day, held every year on the second Tuesday of October to honour the mathematician widely regarded as the world’s first computer programmer, women still lack equal representation within the tech sector as numbers continue to fluctuate.
Lovelace imagined a future where machines could process not just numbers, but ideas, a vision that laid the foundations of modern computing. Nearly two centuries later, that spirit of innovation is under threat as the UK faces a mounting loss of women from the tech workforce.
Sheila Flavell, CBE, COO of FDM Group commented: “Ada Lovelace Day is an opportunity to reflect on the vital contributions women have made in technology. It’s also a reminder that there are still barriers that exist in the workplace and that’s exactly why we must create inclusive environments where talent can thrive, regardless of gender.
“Technology is changing the future of work, and if women aren’t properly represented in how it’s built and used, we risk hardwiring today’s inequalities into tomorrow’s systems. This isn’t just about diversity … it’s a business and economic priority.
“Organisations must create clear pathways for women into digital and AI careers, through structured training, upskilling, and reskilling, and real opportunities to progress. It’s also just as important for businesses and government to invest in this together by advocating for women and opening doors to help break down barriers like the gender pay gap and underrepresentation in tech. When women are empowered to lead in areas like software development, business transformation, and data and analytics, innovation flourishes and everyone benefits.”
As the UK aims to scale the national AI workforce twentyfold by 2030, the sector already faces a shortage of 98,000–120,000 professionals across AI, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure. Yet rather than strengthening its talent base, the industry is steadily losing skilled professionals at a time of national urgency.
Ada Lovelace Day serves as both a celebration and a call to action, a reminder that women have been central to technological innovation since its inception, and that the UK cannot afford to lose the next generation of its brightest minds.
