UK Government launches new initiatives to support female tech founders
As part of the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget, the UK Government launches new plans to work with the tech industry to address barriers facing female founders and workers.
This comes as research shows that women make up just 22% of the UK’s IT workforce, according to the BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT’s Women in Tech Report 2026.
Workplace culture was highlighted as a key factor, with a report from the UK Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) finding that 74% of respondents believed improvements in workplace culture would support women’s progression in tech.
The standards are being co-created with industry, investors, and the Women in Tech Taskforce, and are due to launch formally in the coming months.
The Tech Forward Standard will introduce measures that could include trusted routes for reporting harassment to support women in the sector.
FDM Group, a UK-based IT management company, is one of the early ambassadors of the Tech Forward Standard.
Sheila Flavell, COO of FDM Group, said: “As emerging technologies such as AI continue to create new roles and reshape the workforce, women must be supported to overcome the barriers to entering and progressing in tech, so they can access the skills and opportunities needed to thrive in these high-growth areas.”
“Workplace culture must be at the heart of this effort. By investing in training and upskilling, employers can build the skilled, diverse workforce the UK needs for the future,” she added.
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