The past year has brought uncertainty around diversity in the tech sector as the situation in the US soured when President Donald Trump ordered an end to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) projects and roles.
There were fears that UK companies would follow suit, but as the year progressed it became clear that many were still leading efforts to improve diversity in the sector.
But research has also shown that the number of women in tech is still growing very slowly, and women are leaving the sector in greater numbers, so as the year comes to an end, many questions remain about what diversity in the UK tech sector will look like next year.
Recording from 2024 Computer Weekly and Harvey Nash's Diversity in Tech event shed light on the overlapping experiences of some underrepresented groups and how organizations can serve these individuals.
While there is an increasing focus on hiring specific groups of people, such as women or people of color, it can be overlooked how having more than one of these characteristics may impact the employee experience in the technology sector.
Firms must better understand people's individual experiences and make work environments safe for everyone to better leverage the benefits that a diverse workforce can bring.
There are many reasons why women avoid the tech sector, and a study by recruitment company Lorien found that a lack of work-life balance is a major barrier for women in tech.
Women are more likely than men to take on the burden of caring for children or elderly family members. without work flexibility this may be difficult to maintain.
Lorien's research found that 45% of women struggle with work-life balance in their role, making it the biggest obstacle they have faced in their careers.
As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more embedded in everyday life, special care is being taken to ensure that the teams developing the technology reflect its diverse user base.
To this end, the UK government announced plans to increase the number of girls studying maths at A-level this year in a bid to encourage more girls to pursue careers in artificial intelligence.
As the year progressed, more and more evidence emerged that lack of flexibility stands in the way of increasing diversity in the tech sector.
A study commissioned by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) found that lack of access to flexible work schedule And unconscious bias are one of the barriers preventing underrepresented groups from moving into technology roles.
The recruitment process, lack of representation at all job levels and lack of flexible working arrangements were cited as among the issues the DSIT flagged as requiring “deliberate and sustained effort” to address.
Further exacerbating the dire state of affairs when it comes to the lack of women in the tech industry, the release of Oliver Wyman and WeAreTechWomen Lovelace Report confirmed that women are leaving the tech sector in droves.
Between 40,000 and 60,000 women leave digital jobs every year, some for new roles and some leaving the sector, in many cases due to a lack of development opportunities in their careers.
Unfortunately, the tech sector took a big hit in August with the passage of the law. Dame Stephanie Shirley at the age of 91.
Serial founder, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Shirley has worked in the technology sector for over 50 years.and was known for taking on her family nickname Steve, which was taken seriously after attempts to start her own company fell on deaf ears when it became clear that she was a woman.
Shirley was a pioneer in flexible working, founding the technology company Freelance Programmers in 1962, where a predominantly female workforce worked from home, selling software and programming.
She will be missed.
A study by the Adaptavist Group found that unequal access to AI is preventing women and people from underrepresented backgrounds from learning how to properly use the technology.
This causing an “opportunity gap”However, AI training is more accessible to some than others: 84% of higher-income households feel they have received good guidance on how to use AI, compared to 59% of lower-income groups.
In November, Naomi Timperley, co-founder of Tech North Advocates, became the 14th person named Computer weekly Britain's most influential woman in technology.
The announcement was made simultaneously with the rest of the top 50and also Computer weekly 2025 Rising Starsand list Women in the Technology Hall of Fame.
Throughout 2025, Becky Taylor, speaker and founder of Tech Returnerscreated a six-part documentary series called Breaking the sound barrier – voices are releasedtracing the journey of 10 women in technology they acquired public speaking skills.
The goal of the documentary was to help women at all stages of their careers gain confidence in themselves. The aim of the documentary was to show the development of role models in the technology sector as they learn to use their influence in the sector.
While the tech sector says it understands the need for diverse groups in leadership positions, there is still a lack of women and underrepresented groups in leadership positions.
The year ended with research from consultancy Think & Grow revealing the UK's fastest growing companies. Tech startups and large-scale companies lack women in leadership positions.
According to the study, only 12% of the UK's fastest-growing start-ups have a female CEO, chairman or founder, and 36% have no women on their boards.
