Empowering Women in Tech: How Canon UK & Ireland is Driving Change

By Canon UK & Ireland

International Women’s Day on Sunday 8th March provides the perfect moment to reflect on the positive impact women have on the technology industry, and the paths businesses should be continuing to pave to further support and develop female talent.

But this reflection should not be relegated to a singular day. It should be an ongoing, fundamental consideration of businesses’ long-term corporate strategies.

Diversity, equity and inclusion is woven directly into the fabric of Canon UK & Ireland’s corporate DNA. The founding philosophy of ‘Kyosei’ – meaning ‘living and working together for the common good’ – shapes our approach to gender equality at work.

But actions always speak louder than words. We understand that a true commitment to this overarching principle means continuing to uplift and celebrate the achievements of our female employees, working together to attract more applications from women, and developing our existing talent into senior roles.

We’re proud to participate in this important conversation by spotlighting insights from four leaders across our business who are using their voices to inspire others.

From challenge to opportunity

Despite significant progress in recent years, there’s still a large gender discrepancy within the technology industry. JoAnne Lancaster, Head of Workspace Services at Canon UK & Ireland has over three decades of experience in technical service operations. Her experience beyond the traditional engineering pathways has given her a true insight into the representation challenge facing the industry.

“Today, there are approximately 6.4 million people working in engineering and technology in the UK – around a fifth of the workforce. But only 16.9% of the UK’s engineering and technology workforce are women,” she says.1

Despite growing awareness and industry-wide initiatives, barriers to entry persist. Recruitment processes can still be influenced by unconscious bias, and stereotypes about the industry and individuals’ capabilities can limit opportunities and discourage talent from beginning a career in tech – causing problems, as JoAnne notes, “from the outset.”

For incoming candidates, the lack of diversity can be discouraging. But it’s a problem for the businesses too. As Canon’s female leadership demonstrates time and time again, diversity within teams translates to positive business outcomes – including a stronger sense of belonging for employees, better problem-solving capabilities, broader perspectives and more resilient teams.

Pushing for progress

Addressing representation gaps is therefore in everyone’s best interest. Carlotta Maria Basile is Workspace & Production Marketing Manager at Canon UK & Ireland. She notes that a positive shift happened during the pandemic, which brought more industry professionals together.

“The conversation shifted, and people saw that meaningful contributions were being brought to the table by men and women alike,” she says. This was exacerbated by the increased use of social media, which served as a leveller of the playing field, bringing professional communities together to amplify female voices.

But Carlotta notes that progress must continue at pace if the industry is to inspire the next generation of STEM professionals. She says, “We need to keep driving awareness to maximise the chances of attracting new talent.”

The importance of proactive career support

Proactively engaging with female talent around building careers can make all the difference – especially in the tech industry, where the discrepancy in representation is so stark. Kathryn Scott, HR Director at Canon UK & Ireland, is particularly passionate about supporting female development, employee engagement and leadership growth.

For Kathryn, the key is to nurture talent early. “Having a diverse and inclusive team that encourages the next generation of leaders is the key to promoting a future-proof workforce,” she says.

No career path is the same, but when we can encourage female leaders to grow their careers in tech, the knock-on impact can mean positive outcomes for their teams, the business, and the industry as a whole.  

“As women in the industry, we know better than anyone the positive impact proactive support can have,” says Kathryn. “Incoming talent should make use of the support available to them – and those of us who are more established should be encouraged to reach out and help colleagues to cross the divide.”

How positive cultures are built

Building a culture of belonging is key to Canon’s inclusion strategy. We want to build a workplace where people feel seen, supported and free to bring their whole selves to work. This includes gender-neutral policies, inclusive language and leadership commitment to equitable representation. 

Tracey Fielden, ITCG Country Director for Canon UK & Ireland, believes this culture is central to improving outcomes for women across the industry. “Building a high-achieving team is firstly about creating an environment where individuals feel empowered to contribute, challenge ideas and grow.”

And, she argues, it’s imperative that women in leadership positions lead from the front. “Those of us in leadership positions can have a real impact on incoming talent and can help guide the next generation of empowered women in tech.”

At Canon, we recognise that it’s the responsibility of an organisation as a whole to curate and feed a positive culture. It demands effort, proactive strategies, leadership buy-in, and a commitment to growing and developing diverse talent.

Looking ahead: Canon’s role in driving change

When organisations invest in inclusion, everybody benefits.

Canon UK & Ireland is committed to supporting diverse career paths and fostering inclusive environments where women can thrive. From mentorship and development programmes to visible sponsorship and tailored support, we aim to be part of the solution in closing the gender gap in technology.

As AI and digital transformation continue to reshape the industry, the need for diverse talent, inclusive of gender, background and perspective, has never been more urgent. Canon’s focus on both technical excellence and human-centric skills ensures we remain at the forefront of this evolution – and our female leadership continue to drive us higher, helping us to build a future truly based on the common good.

About the campaign

techUK’s March TechTogether campaign continues with a focus on ‘empowering women in tech from classroom to c-suite'. Following International Women's Day our insights this week focus on female retention and growth in tech workplaces, spotlighting successful female tech leaders, gender pay disparities in the tech world, and addressing workplace biases and strengthening DEI initiatives.