Softcat has announced, as part of its ongoing commitment to a diverse workforce, that it is now a signatory of the Tech Talent Charter (TTC.)

The TTC is an employer-led initiative to encourage greater diversity in the tech workforce of the UK, and was supported in the government’s policy paper on the UK Digital Strategy earlier this year.

Debbie Forster, CEO of Tech Talent Charter, explains the need for change: “It’s vital for the industry to come together as a whole to do more to show females that a career in technology is incredibly rewarding, to increase the number of females working within the industry, to attract people who are considering a career change, and to encourage younger generations to consider these careers from the word go. One single company can’t do it alone, which is why we’re asking organisations to pledge their support for the Tech Talent Charter and join us on our exciting journey.”

In the UK just 17% of Tech/ICT workers are female, and only one in ten females are currently taking A-level computer studies, yet there is a looming digital skills gap where the UK needs one million more tech workers by 2020.

Rebecca Monk, HR Director at Softcat: “We are signing the Tech Talent Charter to demonstrate Softcat’s public commitment to improving gender diversity within our industry.  Our internal activities reflect many of the initiatives in the charter and we are inspired by the long list of employers pledging their support.  Acting together we hope to make real change.”

The charter is supported by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport. Rt. Hon Matt Hancock MP added: “A digital gender divide is unacceptable, which is why we’re working with industry to ensure that everyone has access to the exciting employment opportunities within our tech sector. To make the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a digital business we need the right workforce, and it’s great to see more organisations sign up to the Tech Talent Charter and improve diversity.”

Signatories of the charter make a number of pledges in relation to their approach to recruitment and retention, as well as sharing best practice and bringing awareness to the wider market.

About TTC

For more information on the Tech Talent Charter you can visit their website, here, or follow @techcharteruk on Twitter.

Get in Touch

If you'd like to find out more about the Tech Talent Charter and Softcat's commitment to a diverse workforce, please get in touch using the button below. If you'd like to find out more about becoming part of our workforce, check out our Join Us pages.