The Hg Foundation is proud to be seed-funding the Tech Future Taskforce, an industry-wide initiative set up by the Sutton Trust and Social Mobility Ventures, which aims to create a fairer tech industry across the UK. The initiative launched with an event on 12th March at Google’s London offices, with support from Peter Kyle MP, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology.

The event brought together over 150 of the UK's leading technology employers and social mobility organisations. Following an introduction from the Secretary of State, attendees heard from a panel of senior leaders and those with social mobility journeys into the tech sector at Microsoft, Google, and the National Cyber Security Centre.

Following its launch, the Tech Future Taskforce will provide practical support to help employers create meaningful opportunities for people from underrepresented socio-economic backgrounds to succeed in tech. It will also facilitate collaboration between employers, ensuring peer-to-peer opportunities to exchange guidance and insights on how best to enact change.

The Tech Future Taskforce engages tech employers to work across four key change pillars:

• Engagement and Outreach: aiming to increase the number of people from lower income backgrounds who have access to tech career experiences.

• Access and Opportunity: aiming to increase the number of people from these backgrounds that have been offered a tech role.

• Retention and Progression: aiming to create environments where diverse talent can advance and excel in their careers regardless of class background - right to the most senior level.

• Data and Measurement: aiming to increase the number of organisations who are tracking socio-economic inclusion in their tech workforce.

We look forward to seeing the discussions at the launch event turn into meaningful action from the industry, to ensure that businesses access the talent that is present across the country, regardless of background.

The Tech Future Taskforce is actively looking for other businesses to join, so that they can take action and drive the change the industry needs to keep innovating and growing. Interested organisations and businesses can find out more here.