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Last chance to enter the 2019 FDM everywoman in Technology Awards.

Nominations are now open for the ninth annual FDM everywoman in Technology Awards, providing an opportunity for companies and individuals to put forward candidates for categories in the prestigious industry ceremony, until 15 October 2018.

Entries are free and can be completed here.

The 2019 awards programme launches everywoman and FDM’s mission to “Achieve, Elevate and Inspire”, as the search begins to find the tech industry’s most exceptional talent, from the UK and beyond.

The FDM everywoman in Technology Awards, in association with The Tech She Can Charter, will showcase how the achievements of women and men are helping to close the gender gap in tech. By showcasing the career successes of women at all stages in the sector, the programme creates role models that will inspire the next generation of young female talent to pursue a career in tech. This is crucial in light of research by everywoman showing that a lack of visible role models for young girls is one of the biggest causes of gender imbalance in the UK’s technology workforce.

In the UK’s evolving tech industry, only 17 per cent of the workforce is female and research from PwC found that only 27 per cent of young female students would consider a career in technology, compared to 61 per cent of male students.

The ceremony will aim to recognise new talent entering the industry, with the “Rising Star” and “Apprenticeship Award” award categories being a crucial programme. They celebrate the achievements of young people at the beginning their careers, who can influence others to follow in their footsteps. Within formal education, only 35 per cent of young girls continue to study STEM subjects beyond GCSE level, compared to 80 per cent of young boys, which is why the “One to Watch” category is also so important.

For the second year, the “Male Agent of Change Award” will also celebrate senior male executives actively supporting the development of women in technology.

Entries are open to individuals at all stages of their career, from new industry entrants to senior leaders. Innovative tech entrepreneurs are also encouraged to enter, whether just starting up or founders of scale up businesses.

The 2019 FDM everywoman in Technology Awards are free to enter and the categories are:

• One to Watch Award – sponsored by Computacenter - awarded to a girl aged 11-16 who is actively encouraging girls to study STEM subjects at school-level.
• Apprentice Award - awarded to a young woman apprentice who is a game-changer and is excelling in her early career.
• Rising Star Award - sponsored by T-Systems - awarded to a woman aged under 26 who is excelling in her technology career, making a valuable contribution to her organisation.
• Digital Star Award - sponsored by CGI - awarded to a woman who is excelling in a digital role. This could include innovative digital content, social media, web development or developing online solutions.
• Software Engineer Award - sponsored by RBS - awarded to a woman who has made a significant difference to the art of software engineering and has built something new, shifted the art of the possible and is moving the profession forward.
• Academic Award - sponsored by Lloyds Banking - awarded to a woman in academia who has made an outstanding contribution to technology and science and whose work has made or has the potential to make a significant long-term impact in STEM.
• Team Leader Award - sponsored by American Express - awarded to a woman whose team leadership has greatly contributed to the organisation’s success and is leading a team of up to 100 employees.
• Start-up Founder Award - awarded to the most inspirational female founder of a start-up business (under 18 months old).
• Entrepreneur Award - awarded to an owner/operator of a technology business whose vision and talent will inspire others to start their own technology related venture.
• Innovator Award - awarded to a woman designing, developing, researching, implementing or being exceptionally creative with technology in an unconventional and innovative way.
• Leader Award - sponsored by BP - awarded to the woman operating in a senior technology role within her organisation, leading over 100 employees and making a contribution to the strategic direction of the business.
• International Inspiration Award - awarded to an individual based outside of the UK, male or female, for their active commitment to encouraging, advancing, sponsoring or championing the progress of women working in technology.
• Male Agent of Change Award - sponsored by VMWare - awarded to a male agent of change for their active commitment to encouraging, advancing, sponsoring or championing the progress of women working in technology.

The 2019 FDM everywoman in Technology Awards ceremony will take place at The London Hilton on Park Lane, on 6 March 2019 and will kick off International Women’s Day 2019 celebrations for the UK tech community. For further information about attending, please contact events@everywoman.com.

Maxine Benson MBE, Co-Founder of everywoman comments: “FDM and everywoman’s long standing partnership continues in 2019 as we seek to engage, advance and retain exceptional female talent in tech. We are not only championing these women, but also the men going above and beyond to support them. The ever-evolving skills of “Rising Stars” and “Ones to Watch” make a valuable contribution to the growth of the tech industry, which is why this programme focuses so heavily on celebrating their talent and encouraging the pursuit of STEM subjects.”

Sheila Flavell, Chief Operating Officer of FDM Group comments: “These awards are an important celebration of the achievements of women in the technology sector, bringing together the very best the industry has to offer. At a time when the IT industry is crying out for more diversity, we’re proud to provide a platform for women entrepreneurs and innovators, to showcase their hard work and set an example to the next generation.”

Sheridan Ash, Founder of The Tech She Can Charter adds: “You can’t be what you can’t see! From our research we know 78% of students we surveyed couldn’t name a famous female working in technology. To get more females interested in technology as a viable career option we need to shout louder about the role models already working in tech. The FDM everywoman in Technology Awards is a great example of showing the range of careers available to inspire our younger generation and I am proud, along with all of the signatories of The Tech She Can Charter, to support the awards”.

@everywomanUK #ewTechAwards #womendotech #techshecan