CEO reflections: Building a Bridge
Recently, we caught up with Bright Network CEO and Founder, James Uffindell, and he shared his reflections on the current state of the UK tech workforce, where we want to be, and what we need to do to get there.
Building a bridge. Where are we now? Where do we want to be? Important questions...
Where are we now?
Over the summer Shiona McCallum from BBC News warned that a lack of tech talent threatens to stifle growth in the industry. In their article, Tech Nation writer Liz Scott said it’s a ‘real issue’ which must be rectified. While Michelle Donelan, former education minister, says that: "employers both large and small are crying out for more people to be trained in digital skills.” But, according to government figures, nearly half of all apprentices across all sectors, not only in tech, dropped out last year.
There’s a lack of computer science teachers at school. And despite tech salaries being nearly 80% higher, on average, than salaries for non-tech jobs in the UK – that doesn’t seem to be able to do enough to counter the problem.
Just 2% of the UK tech workforce are from a Black Heritage background. Over 40% of Black Heritage graduates feel their background is a hindrance. Only 13% of UK tech leaders are female. 35% female STEM graduates feel the technology sector lacks diversity and inclusion.
So where do we want to be?
Well, not here.
That’s why we’re focusing on building the bridge.
That bit in the middle that will help us get from here to somewhere we want to be. We started Bright Network Technology Academy just over a year ago to bring together the next generation, equipping them with the skills, highest-quality training and opportunity to become our future technology change-makers.
It’s part of our wider mission at Bright Network to ensure that background is no barrier to career success. A belief that with the right training, support and opportunity, potential can be realised, benefiting both people and organisations now and for the future.
Bridges take time to build
We started with just 100 students and five organisations 10 years ago. Today we have an unrivalled network of 700,000+ graduates and 300+leading companies - including Google, Amazon, Goldman Sachs, Dyson & PwC.
We’re thrilled to have now reached 100 consultants, and I was thrilled to be at the graduation for Cohort 5 Bright Network Technology Academy.
40 brilliant software engineers that we worked to train and who are now embarking on exciting careers in tech with our strategic partners - Atos, CFC, and Lloyds Banking Group. 58% of this latest graduation class come from a STEM background. 70% are Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, 40% female and 93% state-educated.
This continues to build on our mission to drive diversity in tech, with our 100 consultants to date being made up of 76% STEM, 62% Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, 50% female, 76% STEM, and 80% state-educated graduates.
This is just the beginning, but the better the bridge we build, the more likely we’ll get to where we want to be.