The UK government has announced a new package of measures aimed at increasing female participation in the technology sector and tackling the significant underrepresentation of women in tech roles.
Currently, the economy losing an estimated £2 to £3.5 billion every year as women leave the sector – today’s package is targeted at changing this.
The initiative includes a £4 million TechFirst Women’s Programme, which will fund 300 paid placements in tech roles across SMEs, helping women develop their skills, gain experience, and progress in the industry. The programme will also provide coaching and interview preparation to support candidates entering these roles.
Alongside this, the government is launching a pilot “returnship” scheme in partnership with the Home Office and Ministry of Justice, designed to help experienced software developers re-enter the workforce after career breaks. The programme will target professionals who have been out of work for 18 months or more, addressing the barriers many returners, particularly women, face when trying to re-enter the tech sector.
To encourage interest in technology earlier in life, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology will also introduce the TechFirst Girls Competition, delivered in partnership with IBM. The nationwide initiative will engage thousands of 12–13-year-old girls, giving them hands-on experience with technologies such as AI and coding through competitive challenges designed to showcase potential tech careers.
Sheila Flavell CBE, COO of FDM Group commented: “Upskilling and reskilling women in digital skills must be a priority. From supporting women through early education to providing clear pathways into technical and leadership roles, businesses and government need to work together to invest in training that equips women with in-demand digital and AI skills.”
“This should also include dedicated pathways for women returners looking to re-enter the workforce after a career break, ensuring experienced talent is not lost to the tech sector.”
Linda Benjamin, VP of product development at AND Digital commented: “Rigid hiring practices are sidelining highly capable women at exactly the moment their skills are most needed. Despite years of experience and strong adaptability, women are still forced to “prove it again” through narrower performance metrics and biased definitions of experience, often breaking through one ceiling only to encounter another.”
“Reskilling women represents one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to close digital vacancies, protect roles from AI disruption, and retain institutional knowledge. But progress cannot stop at hiring alone. Organisations must also expand access to sponsorship and create fair leadership pathways that enable women to pivot into emerging areas like AI.”
The announcement also includes a Call for Evidence from the Women in Tech Taskforce, launched to gather insights on how best to support women entering and progressing in emerging technology fields, including AI, and to address potential biases in technology development.
The government says the measures aim to support women at every stage of their careers, from inspiring interest in school to enabling professionals to return to the workforce and progress into leadership roles, while helping close the talent gap and strengthen the UK’s tech sector
