The Importance of Women in Tech

Women in technology are critical for driving innovation, reducing skill shortages and the overall talent gap, and creating inclusive tech-based products. By retaining women in these roles, businesses can boost their productivity and contribute to overall economic growth.

However, according to PwC, only three percent of females say a career in technology is their first choice, with 16 percent of females having a career in tech suggested to them compared to 33 percent of males.

There are roles for women in tech across the entire sector. From data engineering and software development to leadership and delivery roles, women should be represented across the board. With the right support from as early as education and as guidance for women within the industry continues to grow, women in tech can excel in a broad range of vital roles.

At TDS, we celebrate the importance of women in tech every day, empowering the women in our workforce and within the STEM sector to showcase their talent in the industry and increase gender diversity, tackle the tech skills shortage and create inspirational role models.

Earlier this month, our Head of Recruitment, Kylie Watson, attended an event celebrating women in tech, with industry leaders discussing how to have more of an impact for women in this space and how to support women as they grow or choose IT as a career change. Not only did the event include discussions around supporting women in the industry, but a conversation with a male Head of Engineering sparked interesting considerations.

“He discussed his experiences of working with females who have struggled within the industry,” Kylie explains. “It was good to get a different perspective outside of women.”

There is a strong balance of women and men at TDS, with not only this gender split, but also having people from different backgrounds and different cultures, having a strong impact on the culture within our company. Since 2020, we have welcomed female graduates into the company, but also have a strong team of senior women at TDS.

“As a business, we are always striving to support women in tech,” says Founder and CEO of TDS, Sam Clark. “It’s important that we continue to do what we’ve done and focus on giving equal opportunities, but also promoting women in tech.”

Women in tech encompasses the inclusion, representation and empowerment of women across all technical and non-technical roles within the technology industry. Women have played a vital role in technology for over 300 years. From Ada Lovelace, who developed the first algorithm intended for a machine in the 19th century to the female codebreakers at Bletchley Park during the Second World War, women’s role in the tech sector has been influential in shaping how we approach and use technology today. The initial programming of the first electronic, general-purpose digital computer was completed by a team of six women in 1945.

The importance of women in tech at any level cannot be ignored. Therefore, through building an inclusive community of women in this industry, we can foster innovation through diverse perspectives, improving technological solutions and advancements of the present and the future.

Why do we need women in tech?

A government report showed that just over 29% of the UK tech industry is made up by women and according to a subsequent Women in Tech survey, 90% of these women believe that the industry would benefit from a gender equal workforce.

Only last week, the UK government announced new measures to help women at every stage of their tech careers, aimed at boosting female participation in the industry. The programme will include paid tech placements for those just beginning their careers in technology and support for those returning after career breaks, helping 300 women advance their careers and unlock tech opportunities in SMEs.

Women should be equal participants in creating and developing new tech businesses, products and services that shape our world and shape our solutions at TDS. Women can excel in a range of roles within the tech industry, from design and UX, delivery, analysis, testing and data engineering.

Women bring more talent

Diverse teams in tech are more creative and innovative. A wider range of perspectives and ideas are put forward, built upon and executed, which increases both profitability and success. Recruiting female talent is the first step, but retaining successful women in tech is the most important, with many women leaving the field earlier than their male counterparts, with between 40,000 and 60,000 women exiting tech roles in 2024, according to the 2025 Lovelace Report.

Bringing more women into an inclusive workplace helps to move the tech industry forward, with gender diversity encouraging divergent ways of thinking and improving quality in the output of ideas in a fast-paced, everchanging sector.

“When I’m hiring and I look at the recruitment spreadsheet, it’ll be around 10 percent, maybe even less sometimes, women in process for interview,” Sam says. “Not just in hardcore engineering roles, but in delivery roles and UCD roles.

“So, getting to people in education and explaining to them the opportunities within tech is super important. Schools and universities need to start promoting and bringing in technology in AI as a focus within education.”

In data roles – which include data analysts, scientists and engineers – women are valued because of their communication and analytical skills which support them in recognising patterns, consolidating data sources and providing businesses with answers. Women in delivery roles – from project managers, product owners and delivery leads – enhance innovation, improve team collaboration and ensure products are designed with a diverse user base in mind. This is also reflected in testing roles, since women can offer diverse perspectives on new products, reducing the risk of algorithmic bias and ensuring user-friendly software.

Women provide greater balance

Women make up a significant portion of consumers within the tech industry, as well as through indirect involvement with technological advancements. Meeting all consumer needs is vital for success.

A lack of women throughout the ideation, development and execution stages of tech production can lead to bias in ideas and an androcentric design, meaning certain products do not work as well for female users. Eliminating this bias and welcoming more women into STEM spaces leads to a fair balance of innovative ideas, leading to better product development.

Women allow increased representation

As more women begin to study STEM subjects and break into the tech industry, the priority shifts to ensuring the next generation of female talent remains inspired and dedicated to filling the skills gap in tech. Studies indicate that the number of girls interested in STEM doubles when they have relatable role models in the field.

In 2022, women held only 5% of leadership roles in tech, with women of colour significantly underrepresented in the sector. By creating a space to build female role models, the tech industry continues to mitigate bias in technological output, drive innovation and revenue and encourage more girls and young women to take the first steps on the STEM ladder.

What challenges to women in tech face?

Working in tech as a woman comes with its challenges. Being aware of the challenges faced by women in this sector is critical because knowledge drives awareness and the desire to bring change.

Not only does the tech industry for women have a bigger gender pay gap than others, but underrepresentation and feeling undervalued plays a big role in driving women into tech-based roles. This leads to a lack of desire to work towards and retain a job in tech, with only 27% of female students saying they would consider a career in tech, compared to around 60% of male students, according to a PWC report.

A higher potential of workplace bias sees 56% of women leave the tech sector between 10 to 20 years into their career, which is double the number of men. This is often due to fewer opportunities for progression, less role models at every level through to leadership and the culture in tech companies.

Breaking into the tech industry as a woman

Supporting women on their journey to a successful career in the tech industry is extremely important.

From giving women the opportunity to learn about the sector and the direction they want to pursue to providing networking opportunities with potential mentors, breaking into the tech industry ahead of a successful career starts with the women who are already embedded into the sector. In roles like data engineering and IT, the key to career advancement is often believed to lie in mentorship and support networks because they provide guidance and inspiration for women breaking into the sector.

At TDS, we combine our industry knowledge and expertise with a positive work culture to empower all of our employees, from welcoming individuals who have studied specifically for a career in technology to supporting those looking for a career change into the tech industry. Regardless, conducting research on the tech industry and everything it can offer is an important piece of advice Sam would give to women considering a career in tech.

“There are a lot of people that don’t know tech who just presume technology is coding,” Sam says. “But there’s way more to it than that. There’s user centred design roles, user research, UX design, content and a lot of user researchers come from psychology backgrounds.”

Contact us to learn more about how our diverse talent pool can support you and your project through expert technological solutions.