Key Points
- Targeted Initiative: Young women from across Leeds participated in an initiative designed to connect students with local digital and technology businesses.
- Bridging the Gender Gap: The event focused on addressing the persistent gender imbalance within science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and the broader digital sector.
- Expanding Horizons: Students from Year 12 took part in the Girl Tech Plus initiative, which evolved from the original Girl Tech series for Year 8 students.
- Industry Collaboration: Local firms, including healthcare tech organisation Enlivio Health, provided direct mentorship, career insights, and practical knowledge.
- Organisational Partnerships: The initiative was delivered in partnership with social enterprise Ahead Partnership.
Leeds (The Leeds Times) October 24, 2026 – Young women from across Leeds have spent an inspiring day engaging directly with local business leaders as part of an initiative specifically designed to bridge the gender gap in the digital and technology sector.As reported by Zeeka Simmons, Senior Sustainability Analyst at Enlivio Health, the Girl Tech Plus initiative stemmed directly from the original Girl Tech programme—a series of national career events aimed at Year 8 pupils—and has now been expanded for a second consecutive year to support Year 12 students in exploring STEM subjects and digital career paths.
How are local businesses connecting with young women to address the STEM diversity deficit?
During the interactive session, attendees were given direct access to female professionals actively working across technical and operational roles within the region’s expanding digital economy. The event provided high school and college students with an immersive look into potential career trajectories, practical advice on entering the workforce, and first-hand accounts of navigating industries that have historically seen lower female representation.
As reported by Annamaria Stewart, Project Manager at Ahead Partnership, students
“had the chance to connect with women working in the industry, hearing about their experiences, career journeys and advice for those looking to follow a similar path”.
The event structure offered direct interaction between participants and representatives from local employers, including Enlivio Health, whose team members Jennifer Richardson, Nafisatu Ishola, Caroline Berzins, Jody Dennison, and Zeeka Simmons were on hand to guide discussions.
The initiative aims to address long-standing sector disparities by engaging students at a critical point in their academic decision-making process, helping them make informed choices regarding higher education, apprenticeships, and vocational training in technical fields.
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Background of the particular development
The gender divide in the UK technology and STEM sectors remains a persistent structural challenge. Data from national diversity tracking organisations consistently indicates that female representation in technical roles across the UK hovers around 29 per cent, with leadership representation even lower. Research shows that while interest in STEM subjects is often equal among younger children, a sharp drop-off occurs during secondary education and post-16 option selection.
To counteract this trend, regional business alliances and social enterprises, such as Ahead Partnership, developed targeted educational outreach events like Girl Tech and Girl Tech Plus. By expanding these programmes from Year 8 students—who are choosing their GCSE options—to Year 12 students preparing for university or early-career entry, organisers aim to maintain momentum and retain female talent within the STEM pipeline.
The city of Leeds, which hosts one of the fastest-growing digital economies in the UK, has seen increasing involvement from regional healthcare technology providers, software vendors, and public sector bodies seeking to cultivate local technical talent.
Prediction: How this development will affect students and the Leeds tech ecosystem
This targeted educational initiative is expected to directly impact both the participating students and the wider Leeds technology sector in several distinct ways:
- Increased STEM Enrolment and Higher Education Pathways: By providing Year 12 students with clear, accessible insights into technical roles, a higher proportion of local female graduates are likely to pursue computer science, data analytics, and engineering degrees or higher-level apprenticeships.
- Expanded Early-Career Talent Pipelines for Regional Firms: Local technology employers face ongoing skills shortages. Direct participation in outreach initiatives allows Leeds businesses to build early relationships with emerging talent, reducing recruitment costs and boosting local retention.
- Long-Term Reduction in Industry Cultural Barriers: Consistent exposure to successful female role models helps dismantle peer-level and societal perceptions that tech roles are male-dominated, gradually altering workplace demographics and fostering more inclusive corporate cultures across the region.
