The UK economy is losing £23bn a year because women's commercial and technological talents are being wasted, according to the March 2006 report on equality, launched in Britain by the Women and Work Commission.
The IT sector is one of the prime offenders in overlooking the talents of women in a strictly male orientated industry.
Cecilia Pearce, operations director of leading West Midlands IT solutions provider, Telecetera, is one woman trying to break this mould and encourage other woman to embrace the opportunities IT has to offer.
Technology is centred around information and communication and within the commercial sector the general business paradigm indicates that women are given roles, which underpin these exact functions.
In the UK alone over 40 percent of women work in education, health or public administration, occupations which rely heavily on technological communication and knowledge to ensure a smooth running work force.
However the concerning factor is the minimum input woman are granted the design and functionality of the software within a given workforce – Which they are expected to master.
The male-dominated stereotype that surrounds IT ensures that many women devalue themselves to the point that they perceive the entire sector as a foreign body they are neither equipped nor qualified to deal with.
Due to the basic divisions and stereotypes within the office environment when it comes to dealing with IT, women can feel excluded, giving them little self-confidence to ask questions and in many cases hinder any progress in their career.
Lady Prosser, Women and Work Commission chairwoman, said " A culture change is needed in order to challenge the assumptions about the types of jobs women and men can do."
Cecilia recommends:
1. Women need to question systems more and not just accept
stock answers of 'that cannot be done'.
2. If someone puts a pocket pc in your hand - ask, what is it
for?
3. If your systems at work cannot give the information that
you need - ask why not?
4. The most important point to realise is that using and 'getting
to grips' IT as an opportunity to upskill, it may get you a
better job, position or platform to work from.
"There is a real necessity for women to realise their potential within the IT sector, the opportunities are there waiting all they need to do now is get out there and grab them."
Notes
Cecilia Pearce - Operations Manager
Telecetera Ltd,
Carden Close,
Worcester,
WR5 3AG.
Tel: 01905 612220
cecilia@telecetera.co.uk
BACKGROUND
Telecetera Ltd was launched in 1991. The company provides bespoke software for SMEs, supporting local and national companies who use computer systems.
Their clients include companies in retail, service, telecoms & media.
Telecetera bespoke software covers integrated accounting, stock and sales, time-management and production solutions tailored to individual client needs.
