The technology industry has always been a challenging environment for women to work in and the issue of diversity has been one of the most researched areas in the industry. A recent eskills report showed that female IT and telecoms staff still earn 20 percent less than their male counterparts, which is also unfavourably compared to the 12.6% national average. The gender pay gap has been long debated and with Minister for women and equality, Harriet Harman announcing details of the government’s Equalities Bill in a statement to the House of Commons yesterday, many will be welcoming the raise in profile of the debate.

Intellect has been campaigning on issues of equality in the industry and this month released its third Perceptions of Equal Pay survey. Every year the survey has highlighted worrying observations in the industry showning a lack a transparency concerning pay and action on discrimination policy. For example 54% of women working in technology think their pay package is not comparable to male colleagues performing a similar role, with 35% having evidence of this. Clearly the Equalities Bill is an important step in the fight for parity in pay, not just with women in the technology industry – but also for people across the UK workforce who are not receiving equal pay for equal work. It is important that both government and industry work together to enable full transparency, the removal of the salary gagging clause in contracts and the widespread adoption of equal pay audits.

Action taken in this sphere will also have a positive knock on effect in other areas where the technology industry is struggling. As identified in Intellect’s President’s Report, a state of the industry account, the sector is suffering an increasingly acute skills shortage. At a time when employment in the industry is growing five times faster than the UK average, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) education take up is declining rapidly and the ‘boys club’ culture remains, initiatives that go some way in addressing the concerns of women are welcome. The industry is at a point where it simply cannot afford to alienate a vast proportion of potential or current workers.

The Equalities Bill is an opportunity to openly debate the stark reality of inequality in the industry. If properly implemented the UK workforce stands to gain a transparent and fair employment system which will ensure the UK technology industry's position in the global  economy.

By Carrie Hartnell, Transformational Business Programme Manager