Girls in IT Campaign

E-skills UK is the Sector Skills Council for Business and Information Technology - they work on behalf of employers to develop the software, internet, computer gaming, IT services and business change expertise necessary for the UK to thrive in today’s global digital economy.

They are currently running a Girls in IT campaign whose aim is to increase the number of female IT professionals, now at 17%, to reflect the percentage of women in the UK’s working population – 45%. As part of this campaign, e-skills would like employers and IT professionals to inspire the next generation of girls into considering a career in IT and so they're looking for you to get involved!

There are multiple ways to do this:

* Sign the 17/45 pledge - which demonstrates your commitment to encouraging more girls into IT

* Join the Linkedin Group - keep up to date with the campaign and share ideas. Invite your contacts to join too!
* Promote the campaign to other IT professionals
* Join the Girls in IT debate on Twitter - #girlsinit
* Convince girls that there are plenty of exciting jobs in IT by giving a talk in a school - whether you’re on a graduate programme or a head of department, your experiences will give students real-life insight into how the tech industry works. You can give a one-off presentation or arrange a series of talks and encourage your team to get involved too. To make it easy, e-skills and its partner companies have produced template presentations and tips for talking to teenagers, available to you online.
* Host or take part in an event for girls - encourage young people to consider careers in technology by hosting an IT event for students at your workplace. Case studies about what other companies have done, suggested agendas and activities for the day are available online.

*  Spread the word! Encourage your contacts and colleagues to visit www.e-skills.com/girlsinit and get involved.

Girls in IT – Bringing the IT community together to inspire girls about technology careers
More detailed information can be found online here or you can contact Lalage Clay at e-skills on 020 7963 8932 or lalage.clay@e-skills.com

I hope you will be able to undertake at least one of these activities, and hopefully more, and help us to create a pipeline of future female talent for the UK's IT profession!