A new Women in Tech taskforce will bring together industry leaders and ministers to address persistent gender inequalities and strengthen the UK’s digital workforce
BY FRANCESCA RAPISARDA
The government has announced the creation of a new taskforce aimed at increasing the number of women working, and leading, in the UK’s technology sector, after continued concerns about gender imbalance across the industry.
The initiative, titled Women in Tech, will be chaired by technology secretary Liz Kendall and will bring together senior figures from across the tech, engineering and business sectors. Its stated aim is to identify structural barriers preventing women from entering, remaining in and progressing within technology-related careers, while also supporting long-term economic growth.
Recent data from BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT, showed that women currently make up just over one-fifth of IT specialist roles in the UK, a figure that has remained stubbornly low despite years of initiatives designed to improve diversity. Industry bodies have warned that the lack of representation could undermine the UK’s ambitions in areas such as artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
Announcing the taskforce, Kendall said the group would focus on removing obstacles that continue to limit access and progression for women in the sector. She argued that broader representation leads to better decision-making and more inclusive technology outcomes, particularly as digital systems increasingly shape everyday life.
The taskforce will be co-led by Anne-Marie Imafidon, founder of the social enterprise Stemettes, who has been appointed as the government’s Women in Tech Envoy. Imafidon, a long-standing advocate for gender equality in science and technology education, said the current moment was critical as technological change accelerates.
She described to the BBC the expansion of AI and digital infrastructure as an opportunity to rethink who designs and governs future technologies, stressing that inclusivity must be embedded from the outset rather than treated as an afterthought.
Industry leaders have repeatedly highlighted the risks of developing advanced technologies without diverse perspectives. BCS has previously warned that a workforce dominated by a narrow demographic could limit innovation and reduce public trust, particularly in AI systems that increasingly influence public services, employment and healthcare.
The Women in Tech taskforce will advise ministers on policies to widen access to the sector, including pathways into leadership roles, career development, and access to funding. According to the government, the goal is to ensure the UK draws from the widest possible talent pool at a time of rapid technological transformation.
The group’s founding members include senior executives from major companies and institutions, among them BT Group chief executive Allison Kirkby, Revolut UK CEO Francesca Carlesi, and Dr Hayaatun Sillem, chief executive of the Royal Academy of Engineering. Representatives from trade unions, technology firms, and industry bodies are also involved.
Sue Daley, director of technology and innovation at techUK, said persistent barriers such as limited progression opportunities and unequal access to capital continue to disadvantage women in the sector. She described the taskforce as a long-overdue step toward meaningful change.
The government said to the BBC that the group’s work would focus not only on equality but also on strengthening the UK’s competitiveness by ensuring innovation reflects the needs and experiences of the whole population.
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