Earlier this week, the Tech Talent Charter (TCC) released its latest annual “Diversity in Tech” report, which showed some progress being made in addressing the long standing issue of gender diversity in the sector but that this still only amounted to an average of 19-25% of tech roles being taken up by women across UK organisations. Organisational culture is still cited as being one of the main barriers to sustainable and meaningful progress in this area and that issue of cultural transformation and the creation of an empowered community of emerging and aspirational women leaders in digital transformation roles are the key ambitions of a new Scottish initiative, supported by ScotlandIS, The Scottish Government and Scottish Digital Academy.
The ”Empowering Women to Lead Digital Transformation Programme” is run by Empowering-You, the leadership coaching specialists headed up by tech industry veteran, Steve Cliff and will be running its first cohort through their intensive programme of one-to-one and groups sessions from April through to June, with the nominations to take part having just closed on the 17th of Feb. The Programme is free to attend for all participants, to ensure equality of access to all sectors and organisations, as well as guaranteeing that aspirational leaders at all stages in their career journey can take part, with the funding for the Programme provided by industry Partners who share the Programme’s aspirations for more diversity and equality in the sector. Those Partners include the international digital transformation giant, Sopra Steria, Scotland’s leading digital and IT recruitment partner, Head Resourcing and the newest member of the partnership, the software engineering and digital transformation consultancy, PDMS.
Commenting on the announcement of their partnership with the “Empowering” Programme, PDMS’ Chief Operations Officer Jayne Hartley said “Women in leadership roles are underrepresented in technology, not only in Scotland, but globally. Increasing diversity is vitally important and we are delighted that we can support this programme to provide an opportunity for Scotland’s women leaders to not only grow professionally, but to also grow their network of professional contacts. To accelerate women in leadership positions in Scotland, programmes such as this, which help to develop a culture of mentorship, will deliver enormous value”.
With applications to the Programme having significantly exceeded available spaces, the Programme Panel, including Ms Hartley, ScotlandIS interim-CEO Karen Meechan, The Scottish Government’s Head of Digital Transformation, Joy Bramfittt-Wanless and Mags Moore, a senior director with Sopra Steria, will be meeting next week to agree the final participants list ahead of the Programme’s launch in April.
A further cohort is already in development for the Autumn and more information on the Empowering Women to Lead Digital Transformation Programme can be found here.