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Gender diversity in the technology industry has been under increasing scrutiny in recent years, as investors, shareholders, the media, customers and many other key stakeholders have started to hold companies accountable for female representation, both within companies, and specifically on their Boards. However, despite growing efforts to encourage young women to build careers in tech, the sector’s workforce is still made up of 74.5% men and 25.5% women, according to Tech Nation’s 2021 report..

But why is gender diversity important? What impact does it have on operations?

A number of studies have demonstrated the benefits of gender diversity across organisations. Not only are men and women cognitively diverse, with different viewpoints, ideas and insights, having a variety of talents in a business can boost productivity, challenge stereotypes and attract a varied customer base who look for representation in the businesses they connect with.

“One of the biggest impediments to career choices around the world continues to be cultural, based on preconceived notions of what society and women themselves believe they can do.”

Jette Nygaard-Andersen

CEO

Through initiatives to improve the number of women and underrepresented groups entering the tech industry, Entain is improving the diversity of our future intake, helping to make our business even better for our customers.

EnTrain, which launched in November 2021, is a multi-million-pound global initiative spearheading our aim to positively impact the lives of over 1,000,000 people around the world by 2030 by providing opportunities for under-represented and disadvantaged groups in our communities.

Entain Academy: supply transformative technology training for the next generation.
Entain Scholarships: providing the platform for a diverse selection of candidates to become digital pioneers.
Entain Apprenticeships: upskilling and developing our existing Entain people, and expanding external apprenticeship schemes with new and existing partners
Entain Partnerships : partnering and collaborating with organisations around the world who amplify and support diversity in technology.

EnTrain is building on the international initiatives we launched on International Women’s Day in 2021, which marked the start of a step-change in our commitment to supporting girls and women interested in building careers in tech:

Girls Who Code

works to close the gender gap in technology. It runs programmes such as free coding clubs, at-home modules and virtual mentoring, targeted at young women, to change the image of what a programmer looks like and does. The Entain Foundation has committed US$250k to support these global programmes, making us one of Girls Who Codes’ most significant global partners.

Tech Girls Movement Foundation

founded in Queensland, Australia in 2014, aims to actively challenge gender perceptions which limit young women’s participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths subjects (STEM) through school-based early intervention programmes for girls aged 7-17. The Entain Foundation committed to a funding programme worth AUD$50k, directly supporting the group’s ability to reach young women interested in technology across Australia, particularly in regional and remote areas.

Girls Who Code

Works to close the gender gap in technology. It runs programmes like free coding clubs, at-home modules and virtual mentoring, targeted at young women, to change the image of what a programmer looks like and does. The Entain Foundation committed to donating US$250k to support these global programmes, making us one of Girls Who Codes’ most significant global partners.

Tech Girls Movement Foundation

Founded in Queensland, Australia in 2014, aims to actively challenge gender perceptions which limit girls’ participation in STEM through school-based early intervention programmes for girls aged 7-17. The Entain Foundation committed to a funding programme worth AUD$50k, directly impacting the group’s ability to reach girls interested in technology across Australia, particularly in regional and remote areas.

In March this year, we announced a $2M AUD investment to break down the barriers to tech careers faced by women and other underrepresented people, especially Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. This is spearheaded by two partnerships

Entain Australia Connectathon 2022:

One of the great advantages of technology is its power to connect communities, and give underrepresented groups a platform.

In partnership with Indigitek , the University of Queensland , Coder Academy and the Brisbane Business Hub ,July 2022 will see the launch of the Connectathon , a three-day hackathon using technology to find solutions to challenges faced by women and First Nations people, or connect communities using a gaming application.

The winning pitch teams are competing for:

A trip to the UK to attend the Women of Silicon Valley Roundabout Conference and to discover Entain’s Ennovate Hub

$30k AUD cash prize matched with a $30k AUD donation from Entain to a charity of Indigitek’s choice

Coder Academy:

Completing the necessary training to launch a career in tech can be expensive. This is why we’ve partnered with Coder Academy in Australia to offer a full scholarship to students from underrepresented groups, enabling them to complete Academy’s Diploma of IT. Mentorship and coaching from Entain senior technical experts is also provided throughout the course.

Upon completion of the diploma, recipients will have the opportunity to take a 12-month graduate employment position, inclusive of a 3-month Entain Graduate program with Entain Australia.

“We believe anyone should be able to build a career in technology regardless of gender, cultural background, spoken language, privilege or access to education.”

Drew Wareham

Chief Technology Officer of Entain Australia

Last year also saw the appointments of Jette Nygaard-Andersen as CEO of Entain- the first female CEO of a UK-listed betting company, and one of eight CEOs currently in the FTSE 100 – as well as Stella David and Vicky Jarman as Independent Non-Executive Directors.

There’s still a long way to go, but we’re building more inclusive, empowering and sustainable pathways careers in the tech industry.