Micro Focus joins Tech She Can Charter, as technology diversity group reaches 128 signatories

LONDON, UK – Micro Focus today announces it has become one of the latest signatories to the Tech She Can Charter, a group of organisations who have pledged to work together to tackle gender imbalance in the technology industry. The group, launched with 18 signatories in February 2018, now consists of 128 businesses of all sizes from industries including professional services, aviation, technology, banking, media and many others.

The Tech She Can Charter is a commitment by organisations to work together to increase the number of women working in technology roles in the UK. It aims to tackle the root cause of the problem at a societal level by inspiring and educating young girls and women to get into tech careers and sharing best practice across the organisations involved.

Each of the signatories agree to work on streams of activity together. These include:

• Supporting policy—Leading the diversity debate alongside educators and policymakers. Building relationships and raising awareness of the initiative with prospective supporters;
• Improve education—Providing inspiring educational content for teachers, careers advisers, parents and pupils to bring the technology curriculum to life and show young people, especially girls, the possibility that a career in technology can bring;
• An image overhaul—Profile inspiring and relatable role models to encourage children and young adults - especially girls - by showing the breadth of career opportunities available in technology.

Over the past 12 months, a schools engagement pilot called 'Tech We Can' has benefitted 726 10-13 year old students from nine schools across the UK. The programme provides teachers with female-friendly lesson plans, giving both the boys and girls in their classrooms an insight into what a career in technology means and why it's a great future career option for people from all backgrounds. The lessons have been developed by a teacher who has joined The Tech She Can Charter and is an education consultant from PwC.

Sheridan Ash, Tech She Can founder and Technology Innovation and Women in Technology leader, at PwC UK, commented:

"Our Tech She Can vision is for women to play an equal part in influencing the technology that is shaping our world. The Charter was born out of our research showing that just 27% of young females would consider a career in technology, compared to 62% of young men. Only 3% of women told us a career in technology would be their first choice.

"Recent press articles report a decline in the number of girls choosing to study ICT or computing at GCSE - three times more boys than girls took these exams in 2019. This issue has never been more important and the Charter's work aims to address this. It's fantastic to have Micro Focus sign up to the Charter, as it's only through collaboration that we can improve the gender balance in the UK's technology workforce which will benefit all businesses and wider society."

Sarah Atkinson, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at Micro Focus commented:

"Attracting and recruiting diverse talent is important for all industries but critical for technology. Those creating the software, upon which we all rely, must be representative of society. As one of the largest UK headquartered tech firms, Micro Focus is committed to helping inspire young girls to consider tech careers and is proud to become a signatory of the Tech She Can Charter."

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