International Women’s Day – Break The Bias

International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on the 8^th of March to mark the achievements of women around the globe. This year International Women’s Day strives to raise awareness of gender biases. The ‘Break the Bias’ theme is challenging bias, stereotypes and discrimination which women face in their careers and personal lives.  Working in the tech industry there are stereotypes which negatively enforce the idea that working in tech is for men. In tech recruitment we are frequently reminded of this gender inequality with females only accounting for around a fifth of the tech workforce. While clients have begun to demand more equality, expecting both male and female candidates to be presented for roles, there is a lack of female talent in the tech industry due to women being discouraged to pursue a career in tech.

At Hamilton Forth, we are determined to do our bit to help minimise the gender gap and nurture future female talent; this change requires encouragement and exposure to tech opportunities from a young age. The Digital Technology Education Charter encourages children of all genders and backgrounds to study Computer Science at school. As Advisors and Signatories of the charter, the Hamilton Forth team works with our clients and the wider community to encourage young people to study Computer Science, share experiences of working in tech and bring awareness to the range of career options there are in tech. Uptake of Computer Science as a subject has dropped significantly over the last decade, therefore more must be done to highlight the benefits of studying tech related subjects. With demand for skilled technicians, great salary opportunities and utilisation of tech in all industries, there are many reasons to consider a career in tech – for men and women. Similar to the Digital Technology Education Charter, dressCode is the programme designed to encourage young females into tech by engaging, inspiring and raising awareness of opportunities for girls in tech. DressCode offers free resources to females aged 11- 13 which enable them to learn about and use various technologies and software so they can start to develop tech skills and explore their interests in tech. In 2022 we hope to partner more with dressCode and share their brilliant school competitions that encourage kids at all levels to start coding

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the workplace has become more widely discussed, helping to bring awareness to gender bias and inequality, however there is still more which needs to be done in order to achieve equal opportunities for women. At Hamilton Forth, DE&I is at the heart of everything we do, from executive-level searches and project campaigns through to how we operate within our own business. Hamilton Forth will continue to support initiatives encouraging women to pursue a career in the tech industry this International Women’s Day and throughout the duration of the year.

If you are interested in a career in the tech industry or would like to find out how you can get involved in the initiatives discussed, contact [email protected].