CompTIA Dreams big with new 'women in IT' plan

Dream IT aims to encourage girls and women into the channel

CompTIA has brought its Dream IT initiative to the UK in a bid to encourage more girls into the IT industry.

The programme began in the US and aims to equip women already working in the channel with the tools they need to encourage younger women into the industry.

The industry body claims women make up just 17 per cent of the IT industry and only nine per cent of girls currently aspire to have a career in tech. It adds that getting more girls in the industry will also help bridge the skills gap.

CompTIA's chief executive Todd Thibodaux told CRN last week that the skills gap is set to get even worse in the next 10 years because so few people are entering the industry and a lot of current staff are preparing to retire.

Dream IT offers tech firms resources including career advice, articles, seminars and presentations to encourage girls into the industry. It claims 10,000 people have been reached by the campaign so far in the US.

"Ensuring that more women enter the IT industry is hugely important for diversity and helping address the industry-wide skills gap," said Cathy Alper, director of US member communities at CompTIA. "Women are actually well suited for a career in IT, which requires all sorts of skills, not just programming. Women bring leadership and interpersonal skills, which are a benefit to the IT workplace.

"We've been working closely with our UK member community over the past year to develop these new materials that will help ensure that women and girls hear about the opportunities and benefits of a career in IT."