Empowering women in tech: creating opportunities and shaping the future

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The AtkinsRéalis team is working with Greater Manchester-based initiative, Digital Her, to encourage more women into engineering and technology careers – delivering industry insight days as well as providing inspirational role models to showcase the diverse roles available in the sector.

Currently the percentage of female science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) graduates is about 19% –  but nearly half of those female STEM graduates don’t enter the engineering and technology field at all, or quit soon after joining. For those who do join the profession, 20% of women over the age of 35 are still in junior positions, with 28% of the women leaving technology jobs citing a lack of career growth as a reason. Women leave the technology industry at a 45% higher rate than men. Diversity of all types is crucial to building a robust workforce with different experience and viewpoints, to empower better decisions, and to improve technology products and services.

The Digital Her* mission is to help end gender inequality in the technology sector across the Greater Manchester area, by inspiring and encouraging women to pursue careers in digital, and by supporting women already working in technology to thrive. Building on our commitment to the empowerment of women in the workplace and the engineering industry, and to creating and maintaining an inclusive culture where everyone belongs, can be their true self and can reach their full potential, AtkinsRéalis is a key sponsor of Digital Her, and is supporting many of its initiatives. 

Showcasing the many different roles available in engineering and technology, and making women in engineering more visible – “you can’t be what you can’t see” – can encourage more female students and career-changers into the industry, and help retain those currently working in the sector. As part of our work with Digital Her, we’ve been introducing girls to real role models and visible mentors from within our business, developing role model profiles for the Digital Her website that highlight a range of career options. We also undertook a ‘takeover’ of Digital Her’s Instagram channel, highlighting a ‘day in the life’ of a female engineer, and recorded a podcast episode focusing on Imposter Syndrome.

To provide girls from schools in disadvantaged areas, who may not have professional connections, with the opportunity to engage with employers and experience the workplace, we run Industry Insight Days. These events invite groups of female students to our offices, where they can take part in a four-hour STEM workshop. Our teams share their personal career stories, to show the many ways of building a career in engineering and technology, including graduate schemes and apprenticeships. 

As part of the Manchester Digital Skills Festival we take part in the Digital Her Day, a conference featuring inspiring talks, workshops and panels for women in technology. With keynotes and panel discussions led by industry leaders, talks by role models, training sessions and networking, the event offers a chance for women to connect, upskill and feel inspired.

Our activities have received excellent feedback from students, allowing us to continually improve our delivery of workshops and insight days. 

Digital Her has reached nearly 4000 girls and women to date, supporting 200 schools and colleges across the region through online resources and live events. It has built a community of over 320 Digital Her female role models – including several from AtkinsRéalis – and is growing awareness of its mission through the 700+ followers on its Instagram account

By helping Digital Her to provide the support, opportunities and guidance needed to empower a new generation of women into the engineering and technology industry, we help them make informed decisions about their digital futures.

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19 %
female STEM graduates
28 %
feel lack of career growth
20 %
of women over the age of 35 still in junior positions

AtkinsRéalis is a fantastic partner in the Digital Her mission towards gender equity in tech. Their ongoing commitment to supporting women and girls in Greater Manchester to be inspired by and thrive within the tech industry is evident through their sponsorship, robust Industry Insights Days, engaging online content and active participation in the Digital Her community.

Kirsten Peters Roebuck

Digital Her Programme Lead

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