A new UK-wide initiative is aiming to help 300 women secure paid employment in some of the country’s fastest-growing technology sectors, including artificial intelligence, cyber security, semiconductors, quantum technologies, engineering biology and advanced communications.

Launched on 13 October 2026, coinciding with Ada Lovelace Day and Women in Tech Week, the TechFirst Women’s Programme is a government-funded initiative designed to address the persistent underrepresentation of women in technology while helping UK businesses access the skilled workforce needed to support innovation and economic growth.

The programme is backed by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), with £4 million of government support originally announced in March 2026. It forms part of the wider £187 million TechFirst national skills initiative, which aims to strengthen the UK’s technology talent pipeline and support the development of strategically important industries.

Unlike initiatives focused solely on training, TechFirst Women’s Programme is designed to deliver tangible employment outcomes, combining skills development, mentoring, career guidance, employer engagement and access to paid jobs.

Addressing the UK’s technology gender gap

Despite the economic importance of the technology sector, women continue to be significantly underrepresented, particularly in specialist and emerging technology occupations.

The scale of the challenge is illustrated by several key figures:

• 21% – women’s share of the UK technology workforce in 2024.
• 20% – women’s representation in the UK artificial intelligence workforce in 2025.
• 16% – women’s representation in cyber security.
• 48% – women’s share of the UK workforce overall.
• £2 billion–£3.5 billion – estimated annual economic loss associated with women leaving the technology sector.

This imbalance is particularly significant given that the UK’s digital and technology sector generated approximately £158 billion in gross value added in 2024, representing around 6% of national economic output and supporting 1.33 million jobs. The AI sector alone contributed approximately £11.8 billion in gross value added during the same year.

Increasing female participation is therefore not simply a matter of improving diversity. It is also an opportunity to tackle skills shortages, widen the available talent pool and improve the UK’s competitiveness in strategically important technologies.

Supporting women at different career stages

The TechFirst Women’s Programme is designed for women from a variety of professional backgrounds and career stages, including those entering the workforce, seeking to change careers, returning after a career break or looking to move into higher-growth technical occupations.

Previous experience in the technology sector is not necessarily required. Instead, the programme recognises the value of transferable skills and aims to help participants identify opportunities where their existing experience, combined with appropriate training, can provide a pathway into technology employment.

The programme is targeting a participant mix of:

• 80% mid-career candidates, including women transitioning from other sectors or returning to employment.
• 20% early-career candidates, supporting women at the beginning of their professional journeys.

Participants will receive tailored support including career guidance, technical training, mentoring, employability development, interview preparation and connections with prospective employers.

Foundation-level training in AI and cyber security is available through delivery partner CAPSLOCK, while participants with existing relevant knowledge may be able to progress directly to other stages of the programme.

A dedicated programme app will also provide access to career resources, industry insights and employment opportunities.

Connecting training with real employment

A defining feature of the programme is its emphasis on helping women move directly into paid technology roles.

The initiative aims to support 300 women into employment by March 2027, with participating employers providing opportunities that meet the following requirements:

• Paid employment lasting at least six months.
• A minimum commitment of 25 working hours per week.
• Opportunities across in-person, hybrid and remote working arrangements.
• Continued skills development and support during employment.

Rather than ending when a candidate secures a role, the programme also provides ongoing technical development, mentoring and workplace support to help participants succeed and progress within their new careers.

The intention is to create sustainable pathways into technology, improving both recruitment outcomes and longer-term retention.

Supporting SMEs to recruit new technology talent

The initiative also recognises that smaller businesses can face particular challenges in attracting, recruiting and developing technical employees.

The programme aims for 80% of employment opportunities to be provided by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with the remaining 20% coming from larger employers.

Participating organisations can receive support including candidate sourcing, assessment and matching, access to technical and non-technical training, onboarding assistance and continued professional development.

These recruitment and training services are provided free to participating employers, reducing some of the costs and risks associated with hiring candidates who may be transitioning from non-technical backgrounds.

For SMEs working in emerging and advanced technologies, the programme offers an opportunity to bring in additional expertise while building a more diverse and sustainable workforce.

Focusing on six strategically important technology sectors

TechFirst Women’s Programme targets occupations across six high-growth sectors identified as important to the UK’s future industrial and technological competitiveness:

Artificial intelligence: Supporting the development and adoption of AI across industry, including emerging opportunities in applied AI and related technical disciplines.

Cyber security: Addressing the growing requirement for professionals able to protect digital infrastructure, information systems and connected technologies.

Semiconductors: Developing talent for an industry underpinning electronics, computing, communications, automotive technology and advanced manufacturing.

Quantum technologies: Supporting the skills required for emerging applications in quantum computing, sensing, communications and related technologies.

Engineering biology: Creating opportunities in a rapidly developing field combining biological sciences, engineering and advanced technological innovation.

Advanced communications: Building capabilities in next-generation connectivity, communications networks and related digital infrastructure.

The breadth of these sectors offers participants a wide range of possible career pathways while helping employers recruit talent in areas where specialist skills are increasingly important.

A national partnership approach

The TechFirst Women’s Programme is led by innovation and growth organisation Plexal, working with a network of specialist recruitment, training, education and industry partners.

Core delivery partners include:

• WeAreTechWomen, leading engagement with women, community outreach and events.
• CAPSLOCK, providing technical training and career transition support.
• Sanderson, responsible for candidate recruitment, assessment and role matching.
• Beta Technology, supporting employer engagement and the development of employment opportunities.

Sector-specific training partners include Cardiff University for semiconductors; Royal Holloway, University of London and Manchester Metropolitan University for cyber security; Barnsley College for AI; the University of Nottingham for engineering biology; Lancaster University for quantum technologies; and the University of Bristol for advanced communications.

Regional partners include CWConnected, CyNam, Tech SY, Northern Reach/Cybec, Women in Tech North East and Manchester Metropolitan University.

This combination of national coordination, regional networks and specialist training expertise is intended to help the programme reach women and businesses throughout the UK.

Building a more inclusive technology workforce

The programme reflects a growing recognition that strengthening the UK’s advanced technology industries requires greater participation from individuals with different backgrounds, experiences and career histories.

By combining accessible training with practical employer support and genuine employment opportunities, TechFirst Women’s Programme seeks to remove some of the barriers that have historically prevented women from entering or progressing within technology.

It also provides an opportunity for employers to review how they recruit, develop and retain talent, recognising that valuable skills may come from outside traditional technology career pathways.

With a target of 300 paid jobs by March 2027, the initiative has clear near-term objectives. Its longer-term value will depend on the extent to which participants are able to establish sustainable technology careers and employers continue to benefit from a wider, more diverse talent pool.

Women interested in exploring careers in technology, and employers looking to recruit and develop new talent, can find further information and register their interest at www.techfirstwomen.com.