Fifth of UK tech companies run by women, study shows

Technology companies are ahead of FTSE companies when it comes to female leaders, according to research from Tech London Advocates.

The Women in Tech Leadership Index showed that a fifth of UK tech companies are run by women, compared to 5 per cent of FTSE 100 companies and 4 per cent of FTSE 250 companies. 

Diversity

The research showed that despite a fifth of tech companies being female-led, women are still underrepresented in the sector when it comes to senior management roles.

A fifth of tech companies in London were found to still have no women at board level, whilst women hold less than a quarter of top roles at almost half of London’s tech start-ups.

Out of the Tech London Advocate members that were surveyed, over half said that they believe the sector does not represent the diversity of London, whilst 60 per cent said that they are increasing diversity when recruiting.

Instrumental

Commenting on the research, Tech London Advocates founder Russ Shaw stated that the gender problem in the tech sector has not gone away.

“Female chief executives have been instrumental to the rise of London’s tech sector, creating some of the city’s most exciting businesses, but the lack of wider representation for women at senior levels is shameful,” he said.

The research marks the start of London Technology Week, which launched on Monday. Discussing the event, Baroness Oona King stated that companies “flourish” when they embrace diversity in the workplace and that London Technology Week brings together inspiring leaders to show how this is done.