The UK Government has taken a significant step toward gender equity in technology with the launch of the Women in Tech Taskforce. This high-profile initiative, led by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), brings together senior leaders from industry, academia, and inclusion organisations to tackle systemic barriers and promote an inclusive tech ecosystem.
At Women in Tech, we welcome this initiative as a crucial step toward a tech industry where women are supported, represented, and empowered. Here’s what you need to know about the taskforce and why it matters to the UK tech community.
The Women in Tech Taskforce combines perspectives from government, large corporations, startups, advocacy groups, and academia. This diversity of experience ensures the group can tackle challenges across the tech pipeline — from education and skills to recruitment, retention, leadership, and funding.
Founding members include:
This mix of leadership ensures that the taskforce can address challenges at every level, from encouraging girls into tech careers, supporting diverse hiring practices, to fostering equitable leadership pipelines.
Despite progress in recent years, women remain underrepresented in UK tech:
The economic implications are significant: underutilising half the potential talent pool reduces innovation, slows growth, and limits competitiveness. The Women in Tech Taskforce seeks to address these gaps by advising government and industry on practical solutions to make the sector more inclusive, equitable, and innovative.
This initiative complements ongoing programs such as the £187 million TechFirst Skills Programme and the Regional Tech Booster, both designed to broaden access to digital skills and career opportunities across the UK.
The taskforce has three core objectives:
Practical areas of focus will include:
These measures aim to produce actionable change, not just symbolic statements, aligning with broader UK initiatives to close diversity gaps in tech.
For women pursuing tech careers, the taskforce signals a clear government commitment to addressing systemic challenges. The initiative opens opportunities for the community to:
By actively engaging with the taskforce, the Women in Tech community can help ensure that its voice shapes policies, career development strategies, and industry practices.
Several industry leaders have commented on the significance of the initiative:
Sue Daley OBE — Director Tech and Innovation, techUK
“Gender equality in technology is long overdue…I am proud to join the Women in Tech Taskforce…working together to create meaningful and lasting change.” (We are tech women)
In discussing her role on the taskforce, Dr Vasileiou (East Midlands Cyber Security Cluster) reinforced the community’s desire for practical, long‑term solutions that go beyond talk to real action supporting women in tech careers:
“It’s a privilege to be invited…help shape solutions that move beyond discussion and deliver meaningful, long‑term change for women working in technology.” (De Montford University)
The launch of the Women in Tech Taskforce is a milestone for inclusion and diversity in the UK tech sector. Its success will depend on:
Ultimately, this initiative has the potential to transform the tech landscape, empowering women, strengthening innovation, and boosting economic growth.
For women in tech, the message is clear: the taskforce represents an opportunity to shape policy, influence industry practices, and expand pathways to success.
The UK Government’s Women in Tech Taskforce marks an important step toward creating a more inclusive, diverse, and equitable tech ecosystem. By addressing systemic barriers and promoting actionable solutions, it seeks to ensure that the UK tech sector fully benefits from the talent, creativity, and leadership of women.
At Women in Tech, we are committed to supporting this initiative, amplifying the voices of our community, and helping to translate policy into meaningful, lasting change.
