A missed opportunity …and for the UK as a whole for businesses… As well as having a negative effect on The gender imbalance in technology doesn’t individuals and businesses, the gender gap just represent a missed opportunity for in technology also has implications for the women and society, but also for businesses. productivity and competitiveness of the UK There’s a growing body of evidence – economy as a whole. If half the population supported by everyday experience in is being overlooked as a source of organisations across the country – that technology talent, then the UK is effectively having a more diverse workforce, including trying to compete internationally with one an equitable gender balance, makes for hand tied behind its back. So for the UK’s a better business. This reflects the wide businesses and economy to realise their full range of benefits that flow from workplace potential, it’s vital that we build up a strong diversity, ranging from the ability to engage pipeline of women in technology. customers more effectively by mirroring wider society, to enhanced abilities in areas Again, recent PwC research underlines the where women are especially strong, such as point – and illustrates the challenge faced problem-solving and emotional intelligence. in all industries, our own included. Our “Women in Work6” report shows that the Put simply, diversity is a business advantage. professional and technical services sector, And other research studies by PwC confirm of which PwC is a member, has the fourth- that the benefits of diversity include having highest gender pay gap of all industries at a head-start when it comes to attracting the 23%. If UK businesses are able to attract best technology talent. Indeed, our recent more women into higher-paying sectors report – “The Female Millennial – The such as technology, this will help reduce the 5 gender pay gap – and also increase female new era of talent” – finds that creating economic empowerment, to the benefit of and supporting a diverse workforce is a the UK economy and society. prerequisite for winning the battle to attract today’s top female recruits. In the study, 83% of British female millennials stated that they actively seek out employers with a strong of British female record on diversity, equality and inclusion 83% millennials stated that – and while they say employers talk about they actively seek out diversity, 66% do not feel opportunities are employers with a strong equal for all. record on diversity, equality and inclusion 5Sources: http://pwc.blogs.com/press_room/2015/03/british-female-millennials-are-the-most-confident-and- ambitious-of-any-generation.html and http://www.pwc.com/femalemillennial 6Source: PwC Women in Work Index www.pwc.co.uk/womeninwork 3 PwC