The UK’s digital economy, which was recently ranked as Europe’s most advanced, requires a tech sector with a diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) posture to match. A greater focus on DE&I could help organisations achieve their true potential and outperform the competition through improved diversity of thought. However, faced with a skills gap estimated to cost the digital economy £63bn annually, companies are struggling to recruit enough talent to meet demand.
Understanding the scale of the challenge is critical for taking action. Our series of research-led reports investigate the key factors in attracting and retaining a greater volume of diverse talent across the industry and discuss where change is needed:
- Understanding the perceived barriers to a career in tech
- Attracting greater diversity through alternative routes into tech
- Tech Talent Retention (available to download later in 2025)
Understanding the perceived barriers to a career in tech
Our insight report covers:
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The case for diversity
- Top five perceived barriers to a tech career
- Exploring the challenges facing minorities
- A pathway to greater social mobility
Attracting greater diversity through alternative routes into tech
Our second complimentary insight report covers:
- Overcoming misconceptions about education when it comes to careers in tech
- Alternative routes into tech
- The importance of inspiring career switchers
- How we can drive greater diversity in tech
If we fail as an industry, we miss out on a fantastic opportunity not only to attract a greater wealth of diversity, skillsets and experiences, but also to better support vulnerable portions of society and drive social mobility.
Unlike other high-earning professions such as law or medicine, there are many pathways to tech careers which do not necessarily mandate higher education at a cost to the student. There’s a much stronger emphasis on transferable soft skills and experience - a fact that should democratise access to a far greater pool of potential candidates.