As part of TCS’ ongoing work with MyKindaFuture (MKF), it was looking for exciting and dynamic companies to help tackle the current UK STEM skills shortage.
By offering female students an exclusive experience to highlight the wealth of careers that are available to those with Maths and Science qualifications.
Taking place at TCS’ London head office, TCS launched the Best School Trip initiative, created by Your Life, Government-supported campaign. TCS opened its doors to 35 female students, offering activities, challenges and an inspirational Q&A session as part of the company’s work in creating the next generation of technology specialists.
The impact of technology on the UK economy can’t be underestimated and igniting that interest at key stages in young people’s education is at the heart of the TCS IT Futures programme – which since 2013 has helped reach over 53,000 young people across the UK. It has harnessed young people’s innate enthusiasm for technology and opened up exciting opportunities such as IT challenges, coding competitions and application design contests.
Priyanka Sethi, Head of Media, Business Development UK, believes that there is a shortage of women in IT and explained: “I think the stereotype that technology is not for women and the lack of women role models in technology is a key reason. We need young girls to break these stereotypes, be bold and be unstoppable. IT is a brilliant field that allows women to work at their own pace, create solutions that transform and enrich their lives.
“Take Natalie Massenet – she used the power of technology to create the first luxury online brand, bringing fashion and technology together. I particularly like this example because fashion is considered to be a ‘girls’ thing and technology transformed it into such a cool idea and a successful business.”
Commenting on the importance of inspiring a new generation of technology talent, Nupur Mallick, HR Director UK&I, Tata Consultancy Services: “The tech industry in the UK is a great asset to the country and something that we need to support in order to keep driving growth and innovation.
“Adapting to the digital economy is an on-going challenge, a continual process of evolution and invention. This is something that the UK must embed at every level of education if it is to develop a workforce with the skills needed to succeed in the global digital economy. It’s a big challenge but with huge potential rewards.”
Despite the fact we live in such a digital world, we are still seeing a trend towards a lacking skills shortage in our young people.
Nupur Mallick further commented: “We find that young people have a keen interest in technology but often the connection to how it impacts them is lost.
Once you start engaging with this generation in a meaningful and relatable way, the value of what they are doing becomes clear. The earlier you start applying it to their interests and allowing them to use technology to problem solve creatively, the greater ability these young people have to make varied choices about careers further down the line.”