More women in telecoms

Ofcom and seven of the UK’s biggest telecoms companies pledge to help more women build careers in tech industry. 

The telecoms regulator is leading on action to make the sector more diverse and inclusive. Historically, the tech sector has been very male-dominated, especially at senior level. Now, Ofcom and leading players in the sector – BT, Openreach, Sky, TalkTalk, Three, Virgin Media O2 and Vodafone – have signed a pledge to tackle this inequality head on.

There are four components to the pledge, which together aim to ensure meaningful change. The signatories each commit to: 

• Increasing the senior representation of women in tech-based roles in the telecoms sector over the next three years, and to increase the overall representation of women in the sector 
• Attracting and retaining women in the signatories’ organisations, creating inclusive environments for them to excel and be their best 
• Annually sharing good practice across the sector and showcasing talented women in tech to the outside world 
• Publishing information on the impact of these initiatives as part of wider efforts in diversity and inclusion 

Dame Melanie Dawes, Chief Executive of Ofcom, says: ‘Having a diverse workforce is crucial to the success of any organisation. It drives creativity, innovation and ensures we as employers attract the skills we need from the widest possible pool. But for too many women, climbing that career ladder in a male-dominated industry can be a real challenge. 

‘We want the telecoms industry, including us at Ofcom, to lead the way in changing that. So it’s great to see so many companies getting behind this pledge, and committing to helping more women launch long-lasting and rewarding technology careers. We look forward to working together to achieve this.’ 

Tristia Harrison, CEO of TalkTalk Group, adds: ‘TalkTalk and I couldn’t be more supportive of this initiative. We’re passionate about increasing the numbers of women in tech, from inspiring young girls into STEM subjects through to mentoring, supporting and promoting women into leadership positions. As the creators of the North West Women in Tech awards, we celebrate and champion the many incredible achievements that women in our sector make every day.’ 

In related news, earlier this year the National Cyber Security Centre’s CyberFirst Girls Competition  crowned its winners for 2023 after 8,700 girls aged 12-13 took part.

Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com