Roundtable summary: Where are the women in the UK semiconductor sector? Pathways for careers in semiconductors

Our session began with an opening address from Ruth Jones MP, offering her perspectives on the current state of the sector’s skill force, with a particular focus on her constituency in South Wales.

Ruth emphasised the importance of inclusion: diverse teams produce more robust scientific solutions and file 20% more patents than non-diverse teams.

However, the semiconductor workforce falls short of the UK Government’s target of 35% women in STEM. Of the 27,000 people employed in the UK semiconductor sector, only 26% are women, and just 18% of technical roles are held by women, despite 70% of roles being technical. Although a record 45,000 girls took A-level physics, this still represents only 24% of entrants. Companies like Vishay and KLA have started engaging with primary schools, making STEM “flashy” and fun. Ruth stressed that even outreach at age 14–15 is too late.

Ruth also identified that the National Semiconductor Strategy fails to reference early-stage gender diversity. She welcomed efforts to create stronger vocational and technical education pathways.

Ruth also stressed that recruitment is not the only issue- retention matters, and more research is needed into why women leave the sector. Drawing on her background in trade unions, she argued that better workplace policies are needed to keep women in STEM roles.

Keynote 2: Nuala Kilmartin -Innovation Lead, Secure and Resilient Growth, Innovate UK UKRI

Nuala provided our second keynote of the day, outlining her perspective from Innovate UK, and some of the work they’ve done- and are doing- to support the sector’s growth.

Nuala’s work involves connecting businesses to the partners, customers and investors that can help turn these ideas into commercially successful products and services, driving productivity, and supporting business growth. She discussed the high potential but high-risk nature of semiconductor innovation, and that Innovate UK supports scaling and sovereign business growth through innovation contracts.

She argued that early, targeted STEM outreach, particularly for students aged 12–14, is essential to help young people see engineering as relevant and impactful.
She advocated for:

Nuala pointed out a worrying trend: female representation in SMEs has actually decreased, and only 13% of spinouts have at least one female founder. She noted that improving opportunities for disabled founders could unlock £230 billion for the UK economy.

Nuala concluded by flagging the Women in Innovation programme, which has supported over 200 winners with £11m since 2016. Find out more here.

Keynote 3: Janet Collyer Chair of Quantum Dice, Mach42, NED for the UK Aerospace Technology Institute, Member of the UK National Semiconductor Advisory Panel

Janet referenced discourse around the massive global demand for semiconductors, mentioning there are some who say the UK semiconductor market should aim for £2 trillion by 2030, not £1 trillion. She illustrated the rapid pace of technological change: semiconductor dimensions were 300 nm in the 1980s and are now below 2 nm. If aerospace advanced at the same rate as computing, you could capture the energy required to travel from London to Sydney in the size of a pin-ball.

Janet noted increasing skill demands and significant funding challenges. Although startup funding has become easier in the UK, scale-up funding remains extremely difficult. Chips can take up to five years to break even, pushing investors towards faster-return sectors like fintech.

Even among the 18% of women in semiconductors, many are in junior positions. Women are leaving the workforce not primarily due to pregnancy (<5%), but because they feel more valued by other sectors and get poached. She compared the UK with India, where the engineering workforce includes many women, and they are generally younger.

Janet added that AI is shifting what PhD-level engineers work on: AI handles routine coding, while high-skilled staff get to focus on more interesting problems. She shared that during her MBE ceremony, Prince William asked her directly why women remain under-represented in tech. She advocated for returnship programmes to help women re-enter the sector.

Roundtable discussion summary

Early exposure emerged as a central theme, with participants recalling how simple, hands-on experiences such as experimenting with LEDs, building basic circuits, or using block-based programming first sparked their interest in technology. These early encounters made electronics feel playful, creative, and accessible, allowing children to associate engineering with curiosity rather than difficulty. Several contributors emphasised that primary school is the most crucial intervention point. At this age, boys and girls show equal interest in STEM, and well-told stories, real-life examples, and relatable demonstrations help normalise technical curiosity before stereotypes set in.

Another strong theme concerned the influence of teachers and parents. Many participants noted that teachers often lack the background or confidence to guide students toward STEM and particularly the semiconductor industry.

This issue was framed not as a failing of teachers but as a reflection of limited time, funding, and institutional support within state schools. Parents face similar challenges, as their own uncertainty about STEM can shape children’s attitudes. Participants argued that industry involvement is essential, whether through volunteering in classrooms, supporting teachers with resources, or partnering with schools to demystify the sector. Empowering both teachers and parents was described as fundamental to sustaining interest.

Pathways into engineering and career transitions- “accidental engineers”

Pathways into engineering emerged as a diverse set of journeys amongst attendees. Several participants described themselves as “accidental engineers,” entering the field from backgrounds in subjects such as maths, physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, or politics.

This indicated that women entering engineering from STEM backgrounds nonetheless perceived traditional pathways into the profession as largely inaccessible to women. However, their stories illustrated how technical ability can transfer across disciplines when employers are willing to take a chance on non-traditional candidates. This led to the roundtable emphasising that a broader STEM education, even if not directly related to engineering is still a positive step for enhancing the number of women in this sector.

Furthermore, participants also highlighted the need to create clearer routes back into the sector for people transitioning from other fields or returning after career breaks. Programmes offering mentoring, practical kits, and exposure to female role models were described as effective in supporting these transitions and encouraging long-term engagement with STEM.

Secondary education was repeatedly described as a point where girls begin to disengage due to unconscious bias, discouraging messages, and unwelcoming classroom cultures. Some participants recalled being explicitly told that computing was not appropriate for them, despite strong academic performance. These experiences were linked to later patterns in the workplace, where cultures vary widely between organisations and sectors.

Several contributors noted that unsupportive environments, limited parental leave, and a lack of empathy in early-career support programmes can push women out of technical roles. Others pointed to positive examples where structured graduate support, inclusive policies, and attention to soft-skills development helped retain women more effectively.

A further theme focused on the low visibility of the semiconductor sector. Participants observed that at careers fairs and university events, students encounter far fewer semiconductor companies compared with finance or software. As a result, graduates often gravitate toward sectors that present clearer pathways and are more proactive in recruitment.

Several contributors also remarked on a cultural expectation within some semiconductor firms that graduates should be immediately productive, whereas other sectors assume and invest in substantial training. It was argued that the industry must embrace onboarding as an investment rather than a burden, particularly for scale-ups. Some suggested that a centralised database or coordinated voice could help raise the sector’s profile nationwide.

Policy and national strategy featured strongly in the discussion. Participants called for more ambitious government action, including enhanced R&D tax credits and sustained public communication about the importance of semiconductors to national interests such as cyber security, finance, and critical infrastructure. Industry clusters and private-sector partners were encouraged to work directly with primary and secondary schools, universities, and regional bodies to deliver mentoring, “day in the life” experiences, and role-model engagement. Examples were shared of existing programmes reaching thousands of students and demonstrating strong retention into STEM pathways.

The conversation closed with a call for collective advocacy. Many participants argued that the sector must actively elevate women’s visibility, build supportive networks, and share diverse stories that allow more people to imagine themselves in semiconductor careers. Proposals included creating dedicated “women in semiconductors” initiatives, hosting major events, and encouraging employers to adopt structured volunteering schemes similar to those in finance and consulting. The overarching message was that sustained progress requires early exposure, consistent support throughout adolescence, and relentless storytelling that gives women a clear sense of belonging within the semiconductor sector.

Technology and Innovation programme activities

techUK bring members, industry stakeholders, and UK Government together to champion emerging technologies as an integral part of the UK economy. We help to create an environment where innovation can flourish, helping our members to build relationships, showcase their technology, and grow their business. Visit the programme page here.