IDEA launches campaign to get more women into IT

National Apprenticeship Week (running between 07 and 11 February 2011) will see IDEA Ltd launch its campaign to encourage more women to start IT careers. Currently 17% of the IT workforce are women compared to 45% of the total UK workforce. The IDEA campaign will be launched at start of National Apprenticeship Week with an event in Shelley’s restaurant at Suffolk New College that will be attended by IDEA apprentices and senior members of the business community.

Commenting on the campaign IDEA Ltd Chief Executive Dr Peter Funnel said:
“Our campaign aims to increase the number of women starting on a professional IT career by encouraging and supporting individuals to undertake an apprenticeship in IT. IT is a sector in which women are significantly under-represented and our campaign seeks to address this as a social issue and as a positive means to overcome known skills shortages in the future.”

The campaign is part of a wider initiative promoting Diversity in Apprenticeships supported by the National Apprenticeship Service and will contribute to the creation of an additional 150 apprenticeship placements across the East of England.

Commenting on her experience as an IDEA Apprentice, Renee Richardson said:
“The IDEA Apprenticeship helped me overcome my concerns about working in IT: it’s definitely the career for me! Everyday brings new challenges and I’ve not stopped learning. I can’t wait to see my career develop as a result of placement at Birketts Solicitors on the IDEA Apprenticeship Scheme.”

One of the unique benefits of being an IDEA Apprentice is the opportunity to participate in events hosted by the business community. Later in the week, IDEA Apprentices will be joining business leaders at Framlingham Technology Centre for an event that will demonstrate how technology can enable business.

Jenny Stockman, owner of Framlingham Technology Centre explained:
“The morning is crammed with a host of industry experts on technologies including broadband, telephony, computing in the cloud, digital marketing, IT apprenticeships and more. The apprentices will be assisting us through throughout the morning while discussing with delegates how the effective use of IT can deliver bottom line business benefits.”

The IDEA campaign will also contribute to the 100 in 100 campaign which is looking to identify and recruit 100 apprentices in organisations across Suffolk in 100 days.

For further information about the campaign and IDEA apprenticeship scheme please contact Howard Smith, IDEA Scheme Coordinator on 01473 382 456 or email howardsmith@suffolk.ac.uk. Alternatively visit the IDEA website at www.ideawebsite.co.uk.

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Notes for Editors:

  1. For further information or comment please contact: Dr Peter Funnell, Chief Executive, IDEA Ltd, Tel: 01473 382456. peter.funnell@btinternet.com.
  2. Supporting imagery available on request
  3. For information about the Technology Enabling Business event visit: www.t-centre.co.uk.

Background on IDEA:

IDEA Ltd was launched by the Prime Minister in February 2009 and is a joint venture between BT, Cisco, University College London, University of East Anglia, University of Essex, University Campus Suffolk and Suffolk New College. The work of IDEA builds on the strengths of these founding partners to create innovative solutions to skills and training requirements.

Rationale behind the campaign:

  • Research shows that the IT professional workforce needs over half a million new entrants over the next five years;
  • Research suggests that girls consistently outperform boys in IT related subjects at school, but they are not opting for IT courses at higher education or pursuing technology careers;
  • IT is a priority Sector in local and national Skills strategies;
  • Only 17% of the IT professional workforce is female compared to 45% of the total workforce;
  • IDEA starts on to an IT Professional apprenticeship framework reflect this under-representation;
  • IDEA believes that bringing inspirational role models into the classroom is the best way to help girls understand the excitement of working with technology.
  • Raising awareness of female IT pathways with employers and learners (employees) will increase participation rates in IT Apprenticeships
  • Research suggests barriers to women embarking on IT careers are employer pre-conceptions rather than learner (employee) engagement