Tech Careers: Opportunity for All

LONDON – June 12, 2024 Tech She Can, the tech careers inspiration charity dedicated to ensuring all UK girls aspire to and can access pathways into tech careers, is thrilled to announce the launch of its ambitious new manifesto aimed at creating lasting, generational change. With a vision for women to be equal participants in the creation and development of new technology, business, products, and services that shape our world, Tech She Can is committed to ensuring that technology works for all.

Uniting a unique community for change
Tech She Can is proud to partner with a diverse community of over 250 industry organisations spanning 40+ sectors. By bridging education and industry, and representing a multitude of voices, Tech She Can is addressing the 'inspiration gap' and 'aspiration gap' to inspire all children, regardless of their background. To date, Tech She Can's proven educational materials, industry role models, and established reach have impacted over 120,000 children across UK classrooms.

A manifesto for generational change

So often, the educator’s voice is missing from the debate on tech skills and talent. To meet the urgent need for systemic change in tech education and careers, Tech She Can presents a comprehensive 3-step manifesto:

1. Immediate actions: Change the ratio of women in tech by addressing structural barriers and societal perceptions. For example, establishing a joint DFE-DSIT cross-departmental unit, and launching a national public campaign to challenge perceptions of tech careers and reclaim the tech narrative, with a focus on girls and women.

2. Within 3-5 years: Ensure meaningful, inclusive, and future-ready careers education for all, preparing young people for work and life at every age. This includes investment in early and sustained careers inspiration for parents, children, and teachers, and partnering with industry to co-create and deliver future-ready and industry-relevant experiences.

3. Within 5-10 years: Modernise the STEM curriculum to make it relevant to all, especially girls. This involves a dedicated industry taskforce to review and update the tech curriculum, ensuring technology is embedded across all subjects, and equitable access to Computer Science GCSE / National 5 Computing Science in all UK schools.

Transforming the future of tech careers
"Tech She Can's Manifesto is not just a call to action but a blueprint for meaningful change: a 10-year vision to realise UK-wide opportunity for all. Along with our industry partners from over 40 sectors we urge the next UK government to improve technology and careers education so that children today will be inspired to pursue, and be equipped for, the jobs of the future." - Says Sheridan Ash MBE & Dr Claire Thorne, Co- Chief Executive Officers at Tech She Can

Lord Jim Knight - member of House of Lords Education Committee, former Minister - Education and Skills, Chair of Trustees at E-Act Multi Academy Trust quotes -
“I am very happy to support the Tech She Can Manifesto and the work Tech She Can does. I firmly believe we need cross sector, cross-government, and cross-party collaboration to achieve real change in our education system. Our schools need support to adapt to a constantly changing world. I’d like to see schools promoting apprenticeships as well as degrees as pathways to work. I encourage you to support Tech She Can’s Manifesto and help make our schools fit for the future.”

About Tech She Can
Tech She Can is a young charity with a bold mission to inspire and enable all children to pursue tech careers. So often, the educator’s voice is missing from the debate on tech skills and talent. With support from over 250 industry partners, Tech She Can bridges the gap between education and industry, ensuring that every child in the UK has the opportunity to engage with tech throughout their schooling.

Join us on June 12th, 2024, as we launch our manifesto and take a decisive step towards a future where tech careers are accessible and inspiring for all. 

For more information and to support our mission, please visit https://www.techshecan.org

Contact:

Dr Claire Thorne and Sheridan Ash MBE Co- Chief Executive officers 

Tech She Can  

claire@techshecan.org sheridan@techshecan.org

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Note to editors:

- Tech She Can is committed to transforming tech education and careers inspiration across the UK.

- Over 120,000 children have been directly impacted by Tech She Can's programs.

- The manifesto launch is a London Tech Week Fringe event. It will feature key educator voices, together with industry and public sector leaders.

#TechSheCanManifesto