Diversity and Inclusion in Telecoms: Insights from Connected Britain 2024
On 12 September 2024, Connected Britain hosted two brilliant panel discussions focusing on diversity and inclusion within the telecoms sector. It was fantastic to see diversity of talent featured on the agenda and both events were well attended. Key points bought out were;
Openreach’s journey: Catherine Colloms shared how Openreach increased female engineers from 690 to around 1,600-1,700 by revamping job adverts and launching the “Watch Me” campaign, resulting in a 300% increase in female applicants.
Vorboss’ ambitious goals: Tim Creswick highlighted Vorboss’ aim to have 50% female staff by 2027, emphasizing proactive recruitment strategies. Initiatives like Ramadan shift working and period days support diversity of staff, which in turn means they support their customers better.
Vodafone’s and BT’s retention strategies: Nicki Lyons discussed Vodafone’s flexible working practices and care-giver support to retain women and parents, aiming for a senior workforce that is 45% female by 2030. Fiona from BT discussed improving retention by offering mentorship and flexible job descriptions to attract diverse talent. Mentorship and supportive line managers are crucial for inclusion.
Leadership and allyship: Hazel Hobbs drew on her experiences at the Government Digital Service and BDUK, stressing the importance of leadership in promoting diversity and supporting staff networks, ensuring that the values of organisations are aligned with the values of its people.
Government’s role: Government can support talent pipelines from schools to industry and encourage uptake of STEM subjects and careers in tech. It has a role to play in nudging industry, for example in improving uptake of apprentices and in making companies face their gender diversity stats through mandatory reporting. It can also help to corral industry, in a similar way which Ofcom is already doing by agreeing a pledge with industry to encourage more women into senior roles.
Thank you to the panelists for such insightful discussions!
Untapped talent; women in telecoms (DSIT stand): Catherine Colloms (Independent, formerly of Openreach), Tim Creswick (Vorboss), Nicki Lyons (Vodafone), Hazel Hobbs (BDUK), Rebecca Molyneux (DSIT)
Diversity in Digital Panel (Stage 8): Fiona Vines (BT), Debbie Casey (Calix), Natalie Strange (RPS Telecoms), Nihal Newman (Ofcom), Lauren Croxson (Sangoma)
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Contact the team
Sophie Greaves
Sophie Greaves
Sophie Greaves is Associate Director for Digital Infrastructure at techUK, overseeing the Communications Infrastructure and Services Programme at techUK, and the UK Spectrum Policy Forum.
Sophie was promoted to Head having been Programme Manager for Communications Infrastructure and Services, leading techUK's telecoms activities, engagement and policy development. Previously, Sophie was Programme Assistant across a variety of areas including the Broadband Stakeholder Group, Central Government, Financial Services and Communications Infrastructure programmes.
Prior to joining techUK, Sophie completed a masters in Film Studies at University College London; her dissertation examined US telecoms policy relating to net neutrality and content distribution.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 0207 331 2038
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiegreaves/
Phil Reid
Phil Reid
Phil is acting Head of Telecoms and Spectrum policy at techUK, where he leads the Communications, Infrastructure and Services Programme. This focuses on promoting the benefits and innovations of connectivity and tackles the barriers of digital infrsatructre rollout.
Phil's background lies in public affairs and policy, supporting numerous organisations to navigate their policy landscape, build their political profile and engage on key issues with impact. His previous roles were predominantly in consultancy but he has also had extensive experience in establishing and manging both trade bodies and campaign groupings; leading their secretariat functions as well as their public affairs and communications activities.
Telecoms has been an ever-constant sector focus during his career, covering an array of issues such as IP-migration, broadband rollout, net neutrality, telecoms fraud, network resilience and security. He has a strong understanding of the sector ecosytem, its major policy issues and has had plenty of interaction with its key stakeholders.
Outside of work, if he's not enjoying family time with his wife and two daughters, he'll be either playing or watching some form of sport.
- Email:
- [email protected]
Tales Gaspar
Tales Gaspar
Tales has a background in law and economics, with previous experience in the regulation of new technologies and infrastructure.
In the UK and Europe, he offered consultancy on intellectual property rights of cellular and IoT technologies and on the regulatory procedures at the ITU as a Global Fellow at the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI).
Tales has an LL.M in Law and Business by the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) and an MSc in Regulation at the London School of Economics, with a specialization in Government and Law.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +44 (0) 0207 331 2000
- Website:
- www.techUK.org
- LinkedIn:
- www.linkedin.com/in/talesngaspar
Josh Turpin
Josh Turpin
Josh joined techUK as a Programme Manager for Telecoms and Net Zero in August 2024.
In this role, working jointly across the techUK Telecoms and Climate Programmes, Josh is responsible for leading on telecoms infrastructure deployment and uptake and supporting innovation opportunities, as well as looking at how the tech sector can be further utilised in the UK’s decarbonisation efforts.
Prior to joining techUK, Josh’s background was in public affairs and communications, working for organisations across a diverse portfolio of sectors including defence, telecoms and infrastructure; aiding clients through stakeholder engagement, crisis communications, media outreach as well as secretariat duties.
Outside of work, Josh has a keen interest in music, painting and sailing.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7331 2038
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-turpin/
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