21 Jan 2022
by Nimmi Patel

techUK responds to Parliamentary Call for Evidence on Diversity in STEM

Highlights from techUK's response to House of Commons Science and Technology Committee call for evidence.

techUK has responded to Diversity in STEM Call for Evidence from the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, informing that effective and sustainable diversity and inclusion solutions that ensure everyone feels confident and safe at work must cover all aspects of a company - the people, its processes, and its culture.

In it's membership, techUK has over 950 companies which are themselves diverse, operating across numerous sectors and all with their own individual hiring, training, and retraining practices. The journey these companies are on to ensure those from disadvantaged backgrounds are represented within the tech industry are very different.

However, the direction of travel is the same. By redoubling our efforts to increase diversity in tech we can not only work towards the normative and societal good of equal representation in the sector, but at the same time take important steps towards ensuring an ethical and sustainable approach to the development and use of technology.

techUK recommendations to support diversity in tech talent from classroom to boardroom

  • For government to progress the gender pay reporting from a monitoring tool to an action tool.
  • Encourage industry to collect and measure broad diversity data (not just gender) to use a baseline to set targets and design interventions built on evidence, and then measure interventions for effectiveness.
  • Government should work with the tech industry to run an inspiring campaign telling the story of how people from all walks of life have successfully reskilled in digital technology and benefited from life-changing career opportunities through diverse pathways, from T-Levels and apprenticeships and onto degree level qualifications. It should highlight the diversity and effectiveness of pathways and jobs available to all, regardless of background. This campaign should reach out to those people who have traditionally been less confident or aware of their ability to access the opportunities available.

Authors

Nimmi Patel

Nimmi Patel

Head of Skills, Talent & Diversity, techUK

Nimmi Patel is the Head of Skills, Talent and Diversity at techUK.

She works on all things skills, education, and future of work policy, focusing on upskilling and retraining. Nimmi is also an Advisory Board member of Digital Futures at Work Research Centre (digit). The Centre research aims to increase understanding of how digital technologies are changing work and the implications for employers, workers, job seekers and governments. She is also a member of Chatham House's Common Futures Conversations

Prior to joining the team, she worked for the UK Labour Party and New Zealand Labour Party, and holds a BA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of Manchester and holds an MA Strategic Communications at King’s College London.

Email:
[email protected]
Phone:
07805744520
Twitter:
@nimmiptl
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nimmi-patel1/

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