Westminster hosted the Ahead Partnership’s first London Girl Tech event to address the lack of female representation in the technology and digital sectors. In partnership with the global IT consultancy Netcompany, the event brought together female tech leaders to inspire young women to pursue digital careers.
Girl Tech was established by social-value specialist Ahead Partnership in 2018 to encourage young women to pursue careers in the tech and digital industries. By joining forces with industry-leading businesses like Netcompany, the event introduces 12-14-year-old young women to inspirational role models from a range of backgrounds to debunk myths and address gender disparities in the sector.
With sponsorship from partners and employers including Netcompany, Optum and Liberty Blume, the initiative has expanded across five cities in the UK to connect even more young people with career opportunities. The event at the University of Westminster’s Marylebone Campus on 20 May marked its first-ever session in London and helped hundreds of the capital’s young women to discover their place in the tech and digital industries, reflecting the University’s commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
Throughout the day, young women from across London had the opportunity to meet with representatives from leading international tech and digital companies as well as inspiring female leaders who gave insight into their experience in the industry. Speakers included colleagues from organisations including KPMG, Accenture, Technuovo, Revalut, Netcompany, Serac, Amazon Web Services and Inicio, who showcased the variety of careers available and a range of alternative routes into the industry.
About the partnership Richard Davies, Country Managing Partner at Netcompany, said: "Netcompany’s ongoing partnership with the University of Westminster on GirlTech goes beyond simply developing skills – it’s about empowering young women to see themselves as integral to technology sector and recognising that their ideas and talents are essential to shaping the future of the industry. Tech should be shaped by everyone, so seeing their enthusiasm and confidence flourish year after year is incredibly rewarding.”
Simay Sali Sevik, Development Manager at the University of Westminster, added: “It was fantastic to see so many girls exploring the wide range of roles available in the tech industry and collaborating to find creative solutions to real-world challenges shared by our guests. What made the day even more special was the presence of so many inspiring women from the tech sector who generously gave their time to mentor and encourage the next generation of female tech talent. We’re proud to have been part of this incredible event alongside Netcompany and Ahead Partnership, working together to inspire and empower more girls to pursue careers in tech.”
The Girl Tech initiative directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 5: Gender Equality, 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and 17: Partnership for the Goals. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
To find out how individuals or organisations can collaborate with the University, contact Westminster’s Development Team.
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