Ideagen, the Nottingham-headquartered, global software firm, is joining forces with the Nottingham Girls’ Academy in the effort to encourage women to have careers in technology.

Nottingham Girls’ Academy has created a careers strategy focusing on challenging gender stereotypes with the purpose on increasing the rate of girls embarking into science, technology, engineering, arts and maths (STEAM) careers. Students will conduct cloud and collaborative computing projects, complete work experience placements and take part in ‘Internet of Everything’ coursework for a product idea. There will also be curriculum learning on the fundamentals of Information Technology (IT), Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies, a careers networking session with Ideagen professionals and chances to win prizes through a challenging technology project. The programme also includes targeted support for students at key transition points throughout their secondary and 6th form education.

The programme with Ideagen – which is part of a wider initiative involving The Futures Group, D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, The Careers and Enterprise Company (CEC) and Greenwood Academies Trust – involves all year groups in the school. It will also provide digital tech expertise and experiences to the new T-Level qualification being delivered in the 6th form.

“Gender stereotypes and the low uptake on technology-related studies and subsequent careers for females are well documented. However, what firms such as ourselves can do is change that through ambitious, well planned and collaborative projects such as the Ideagen Women in Tech programme,” said Ideagen’s CEO, Ben Dorks.

[Image credit: Pang Yuhao for Unsplash]