WIREDGOV

To celebrate International Women’s Day, techUK launches a brand new hub for returners and for tech companies to learn more about starting their own returners...

techUK members, who range from innovative start-ups to world-leading global tech companies, face difficulties in accessing the talent they need to grow.

Research indicates the UK will need 754,000 additional workers with digital skills to meet rising demand from employers between 2013 and 2017. Tech companies are urgently seeking top tech talent, and an important untapped talent source is women returners.

Estimates suggest almost 2 million women in the UK are currently economically inactive due to caring commitments, and 76% of professional women on career breaks want to return to work. That’s why techUK, in partnership with everywoman, launched the Back to Work Programme in 2016.

Following the successful programme pilot, techUK identified a gap in the market for a central hub of information for tech returners. This was for both individuals looking to return to the tech sector and for tech companies to find out more about running their own returner programmes.

To address this issue, techUK teamed up with members and partners to create a centralised Returners Hub for the tech sector. Launching today on International Women’s Day at www.techuk.org/returners, this hub features four sections:

1. Tech companies currently running returner programmes;
2. Tech companies who do not run specific returners programmes, but are open to receiving applications from people who have had a career break;
3. Resources for returners, including free courses, training materials, books, and mentorship programmes;
4. Training organisations that can assist tech companies with the diversity agenda and creating a returners programme.

The launch of the hub will be accompanied by an event today, featuring exciting guest speakers and a returners panel. Follow the event on #techUKIWD

To celebrate the launch of the Returners Hub, Jacqueline de Rojas, techUK President, comments

“It is essential that the UK reinvents itself as a digital nation of significance. To do this, the UK desperately needs greater, and more diverse talent. There is an urgent need to build tech skills and equip workforces for the digital age – and I believe techUK’s Returners Hub has a key role to play. This hub will be a great centralised resource for women, and men, who are looking to get back into their careers into to tech or reskill into a new technical role. By shining a light on returners, we can attract, retain, and progress more top female tech talent and continue to move the dial on the issue of diversity in tech.”

Explaining how important it is to source tech talent, Julian David, techUK CEO said:

“techUK is committed to increasing diversity in the tech sector, and this is one of our flagship projects this year. I am proud to work with such committed members to get the message out there about the wonderful programmes tech companies have for returners. We encourage more members and tech companies to get involved with the Hub and feature their commitment to diversity.”

Sheila Flavell, Chief Operating Officer of FDM Group which runs the Getting Back to Business Programme adds:

“We’re delighted to support the launch of techUK’s Returners’ Hub. Since we launched our Getting Back to Business programme we have received over 2,000 applications from high calibre individuals who are eager to return to work and re-start their careers; there is clearly a demand for programmes like ours. It’s vitally important for UK businesses to recognise the value of introducing returners into their teams if the UK is going to remain competitive and fulfil our increasing digital skills requirements.”