Did you know that only 16% of females have had a career in technology suggested to them and that 61 % of girls say they have been put off a career in tech?

And despite progress in sealing the gender gap in technology, women still only represent around 26% of the IT workforce, and that 45% more women than men leave jobs in the tech sector.

More nail-biting statistics show that only 5% of leadership positions in the technology sector are held by women. 

Today, we’re thrilled to announce our community-focused partnership with InnovateHer, a values-led social enterprise dedicated to addressing the gender imbalance in the tech sector.

We are more than just a recruitment company - we are actively working with partners across the tech industry to bridge the digital skills gap – from schools, to colleges, to universities and to those that are currently under-employed or want to change careers – the partnership with Innovate Her is helping to tackle the gender gap issue from the very start.

As individual organisations, RS and InnovateHer are both wholly committed to diversity, social mobility and addressing the industry skills gap. This partnership agreement not only removes barriers to diverse talent but also unlocks opportunities for underrepresented demographics and delivers more diverse and innovative solutions for our clients.   

So what does the partnership involve?

With a mutual motivation to encourage an uptake of STEM subjects for GCSEs among young girls and non-binary students, this partnership will provide mentorship and tech skills support from an early age, nourishing the UK’s future talent pipeline by connecting students with a lifetime of opportunity. The programme focuses on people from a wide variety of backgrounds including those from disadvantaged backgrounds and especially underrepresented talent in tech. 

Workforce Consultancy will support 200 students at Standish Community High School in Greater Manchester with tech skills coaching and participate in school activities such as graduation and code clubs. Extending this initiative to more schools and colleges in the coming months, employees and consultants at Resource Solutions have the opportunity to join a growing ambassador network and offer coaching, while students benefit from role model support and mentoring.

We are proud to be doing our bit to create a fairer, more accessible and more diverse tech industry. Our new partnership with @InnovateHerUK we will have a direct impact on the next generation of tech talent, whilst strengthening the UK's talent pipeline.

Jess Holt, Global Head of Workforce Consultancy at Resource Solutions, says "At Resource Solutions, we proudly strive for a fairer, more accessible, and diverse tech industry. By partnering with InnovateHer, our ambition is to inspire teenagers to pursue tech careers in the first place, but also to help shape future female and non-binary tech professionals so that they have all the tools to thrive throughout a long career in the industry. By strengthening the workforce of tomorrow from an early age, we’re also able to enhance our clients' access to talent and ensure they have access to a skilled and more diverse workforce to meet their evolving technological need.”

Last month, we were honoured to host our first Workforce Consultant’s Club Townhall event where Chelsea Slater, Founder and CEO of InnovateHer introduced the partnership to our Consultants and many have already made the commitment to becoming Ambassadors, coaches and mentors to our first cohort of students at Standish Community High School in Manchester. 

Lauren Forbes, Head of Partnerships at InnovateHer said “Collaboration is the cornerstone of progress when it comes to fostering diversity in the tech workforce, so partnering with the Resource Solutions team is a powerful step in the right direction for us at InnovateHer. Working together, we strive to create a future where every individual, regardless of their differences and background, has equal opportunities to thrive and excel in the workforce.”

“Thanks to Resource Solutions’ extensive resources and network, we can now map out a clear and tangible career trajectory for the students we support, and ensure the mentoring we provide in their educational years aligns with the job market and its future needs. We are thrilled to bring Resource Solutions into our partner network and cannot wait to see the progress we make together.”

For more information please contact:

Sarah Fowke
Marketing Manager
sarah.fowke@resourcesolutions.com
Tel: +442030366579