Rewrite the Code toolkit – launching soon!
Women in Tech Gothenburg launches a digital toolkit for an inclusive tech industry, co-created by the industry itself and sponsored by Unionen and TechSverige.
Join us for the launch event! Register here:
Why?
The tech industry is part of Sweden’s economic backbone, and the demand for competence is growing rapidly. TechSverige estimates that 70,000 specialists within IT and tech are needed by 2024. At the same time, there is a significant drain of senior talent – mainly women – who leave their jobs or leave the industry altogether due to unequal opportunities and exclusionary or discriminating work cultures.
In addition, data shows that gender equality and inclusion are vital for innovation, strong financial performance, healthy working cultures, organisational resilience, and consequently, for both thriving businesses and a sustainable society. Therefore, we need active efforts to motivate more women and non-binary people to stay in the industry. But retaining more senior professionals requires a different approach than attracting young people to tech-related education; it’s a matter of leadership and culture.
“We know that many people in our industry want it to be a place where everyone can thrive but don't know what needs to change or what steps to take. With this initiative, we can drive awareness and help leaders and changemakers take the relevant actions.”
Women in Tech Gothenburg
What?
The Rewrite the Code toolkit is a digital platform, co-created through workshops with more than 100 participants of all genders, representing a wide variety of tech professions, competence, and expertise from within the tech industry in West Sweden. The topics for the workshops were Creative and Innovative Company Culture, A Welcoming Work Environment, and Inclusive and Engaging Leadership.
Along with the workshop insights and solutions, we have gathered relevant data, inspiration, concrete advice, checklists, and links to useful assets – all in one place and free for everyone to access and use.
The beta version toolkit will be launched on Sept. 5th at an event in Gothenburg and will be available here from that date.
Join us for the launch event! Register here:
Background
Women and non-binary people are currently under-represented in the tech sector. According to fresh and concurring research from Sweden, Europe, and the US, this is not only because fewer of them are entering these professions but also because many choose to leave the industry prematurely due to discrimination and exclusionary company cultures. This not only means that competence is being replenished at too slow a rate, but also that the industry is being drained of senior talent and expertise. Therefore, we need active efforts to motivate more women and non-binary people to stay in the tech industry. This requires a different approach than, for example, attracting young people to tech-related education.
This is why a hundred women and non-binary people gathered in 2019 to share their experiences and suggestions and create a list of demands to help drive positive change. The list was handed over to Almega/TechSverige, Sweden’s most significant employer organisation within the service sector, and Unionen, Sweden’s largest trade union organisation. With the Rewrite the Code project, we’re taking the next step to drive concrete change.
Why this is important
Gender equality is about fairness but also about achieving a higher level of innovation, and a healthy and creative work culture where all genders can thrive and develop and, as a result, generate better profitability. Research shows clear causality between gender equality and all these key business concerns.