A non-profit organisation set up nine years ago to improve diversity and inclusion across the UK tech sector is closing due to companies shelving initiatives and decreasing budgets.
Tech Talent Charter, which represents almost a quarter of a million tech workers, will cease operations in August.
The advocacy organisation works in close partnership with tech employers across the UK to promote diversity and inclusion. More than 800 tech employers are signatories to Tech Talent Charter’s goals.
However, the organisation, which is partially funded by the government, said “too many companies are quiet quitting” diversity and inclusion.
“We are at a pivotal moment for the future of the UK’s tech sector,” said Co-CEO and co-founder Debbie Forster. “Great progress has been made but now too many companies are ‘quiet quitting’ D&I and there is real risk of going backward.”
Forster added: “We hope our decision to close will create a point of reflection and inflection that will lead to greater commitment to drive real change across the sector. We believe this decision, while tough to make, is the right thing to do at a time when D&I needs a reset and a new approach to ensure the longevity of the UK tech economy.”
Since its launch in 2015 – when women held fewer than 15% of tech roles – Tech Talent Charter has published annual reports on D&I progress.
While there has been some progress in the number of women and other underrepresented groups in the UK’s tech sector, gender inequality remains high.
A report from Beauhurst, published in January 2023, found that just 27% of UK equity deals went to startups where at least one of the founders is a woman.
“Our decision to close is driven by the hope that it will amplify the need for renewed focus,” said Tech Talent Charter co-CEO Karen Blake. “We believe this inflection point is essential to refocusing efforts, refining methods, and driving greater commitment and investment at a systemic, industry, and regional level.”
Tech Talent Charter has been partly funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. It has also collaborated with the trade association techUK.
The post Tech Talent Charter closes as firms shelve diversity initiatives appeared first on UKTN.
