German distant entry software program supplier TeamViewer has revealed particulars of an initiative referred to as SheSportTech that goals to assist “ladies discover the profession potentialities” within the rising trade of sports activities know-how.
The scheme launched on 4 April in collaboration with sports activities companions Manchester United and the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 staff, and is backed by Girls in Sports activities Tech (WIST), a world non-profit organisation driving development alternatives for girls within the sports activities tech trade.
Open to ladies aged 18 and above globally, the programme will present 5 profitable candidates with as much as €1,500 for use on programs associated to sports activities tech careers, an assigned feminine mentor from TeamViewer or one of many initiative’s sports activities companions, and alternatives to entry “bespoke occasions and experiences”.
Presently, the variety of ladies in tech stays low, with simply over 1 / 4 (26%) of tech-related jobs within the UK held by ladies, in response to Tech Nation, with the quantity in sports activities tech being even decrease. And extra individuals are noticing the gender disparity, with 91% of respondents to a 2023 Girls in Tech survey believing there are extra males in tech than ladies.
Religion Wheller, vice-president of brand name at TeamViewer, mentioned: “We imagine that know-how is made higher by a various workforce. And we all know that illustration issues in making ladies really feel that sport tech is a subject the place they might thrive, which is why our marketing campaign brings all these superb ladies – and their roles – into the highlight.”
The initiative is accompanied by a artistic marketing campaign that includes the varied feminine expertise of Manchester United, each on the pitch and behind the scenes. Gamers equivalent to Mary Earps and Nikita Parris characteristic alongside the ladies behind the membership’s knowledge evaluation and safety, buyer relationship administration and expertise administration.
“We’re hoping their tales will encourage extra ladies to affix the trade. Making use of for the grants and experiences inside our SheSportTech programme could be a nice step on this route,” Wheller added.
Marilou McFarlane, founder and CEO of WIST, mentioned: “We’re honoured to affix forces with TeamViewer on this thrilling, instructional and fascinating initiative.
“This partnership aligns with our imaginative and prescient of making a extra numerous and inclusive sport tech ecosystem, and finally extra progressive and profitable companies, by means of confirmed, tangible options. Collectively, we sit up for driving optimistic change and offering worthwhile and equitable alternatives for networking, studying {and professional} development.”
Candidates might be judged on three standards: their motive for searching for a profession transition into sports activities tech, an outline of potential alternatives they might pursue utilizing the funds, and the standard of their written proposal. Entries shut on Sunday 30 June 2024.
Girls in tech within the UK
Although there was enchancment, there may be nonetheless a lot progress to be made for girls within the tech trade within the UK.
Girls in Tech’s 2023 survey revealed that 76% of ladies within the trade have skilled gender bias or discrimination at the very least as soon as. Some 79% of individuals agreed there was a gender pay hole within the sector and 70% of individuals reported a gender imbalance of their present or most up-to-date staff.
On the identical time, 90% of respondents believed the tech sector would profit from an equal workforce, with 61% saying their organisation was actively engaged on it – a 25% rise since 2019.
The survey additionally revealed that most individuals believed the early false impression {that a} lack of training in younger women is in charge for deterring ladies from the trade, with the subsequent hottest opinion being its male-dominated workforce.
Optimism concerning the scenario varies – most respondents imagine it’ll take between six and 10 years to succeed in gender equality in tech, however 8% assume it’ll by no means be equal, whereas Aviva CEO Amanda Blanc estimates that it’ll take 30 years to shut the gender pay hole if progress continues at this “frustratingly sluggish” charge.