Our efforts to make tech industries more diverse are going from strength to strength.
Women make up just 17 percent of the tech workforce. Recent figures suggest that just four per cent of the workers in the tech industry are black, Asian or minority ethnic (BAME).
We wanted to change the statistics and create a more diverse tech sector. And that's what Professors Sue Black and Alexandra I. Cristea from our Computer Science Department set out to do with TechUPWomen.
Award winners
By working with partner universities and industry leads, our TechUP women were from a diverse range of backgrounds, including 54 per cent BAME women.
The team's dedication to creating a more diverse workforce was recognised at the Dynamites Awards, where they received an award in the diversity and inclusion category.
The virtual awards were led and hosted by Dynamo, an organisation which aims to grow the North East technology sector.
Rising star
We're proud of each and every one of our TechUPWomen. So when one of our graduates, Fareeha Usman, was awarded a Rising Star at the same event, we were absolutely delighted.
Fareeha, who is based in the North East of England, is founder of Being Woman, a charitable organisation which works to empower women by promoting diversity, equality and justice in society.
Since our first cohort of TechUPWomen graduated earlier this year, they've gone from strength-to-strength and achieved some incredible things, from securing promotions, to getting a new job, or deciding to continue their studies.
The women in tech revolution is well underway.
