New government initiative to promote women in STEM

The UK Government is launching a new initiative to encourage women to consider careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Currently, only 29% of the STEM workforce is made up women. This new initiative will benefit from £150,000 of Government funding and will be used by Women Returners and STEM Returners to target women who have taken career breaks and promote core skills in an attempt to plug the STEM skills gap.

Joanna Kori, Head of People for fintech firm Encompass Corporation, commented: 

“I am glad to see the Government promoting and providing tangible support to women looking to get into, or return to, STEM careers through investment and skills training. STEM careers are hugely rewarding, yet, as recent figures show, too few women are involved in the sector, and that needs to change. Women are poised to play a crucial role in resolving the skills gap, and it is vital that organisations provide the opportunities and training to empower women and encourage them to pursue a career in STEM. At Encompass, we work hard in this area, providing the balance of both autonomy and support to allow our talented female employees to thrive and be at the centre of the company’s growth.”

Nicola Pickering, VP of Customer Success & Delivery at Encompass Corporation, said: 

“The opportunities and avenues available in STEM are vast and, with initiatives like this, will only increase. It is encouraging to see how far we have come in schools, in terms of expanding opportunities, and instilling in girls to have no limits in what they pursue. There is so much possibility to achieve in the tech industry and, with the evolution of flexible working, inclusion for women is greater than ever before, meaning they can fulfil exciting career ambitions while maintaining the positive work-life balance that many look for."

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/happy-ethnic-woman-sitting-at-table-with-laptop-3769021/