GLOBAL financial services firm FinTrU is collaborating with Women in Business to support female opportunities in the tech industry.
The three-year partnership will see FinTrU and the leading female business network explore the barriers facing women in the tech sector and how best to overcome them, with a particular focus on the sector’s long-standing gender imbalance.
Despite investment in Northern Ireland tech firms surpassing an all-time high £100 million last year, women are still largely under-represented, with STEM workforce statistics revealing the percentage of women employed in the UK tech industry today is just 17 per cent, up from 15.7 per cent in 2009.
By becoming a Women in Business partner, FinTrU says it is reinforcing its commitment to attract, retain and support women working in the north’s tech industry and, in so doing, further build on successful campaigns such as the Women in Business 'Press Refresh' programme.
Lorraine Acheson, managing director at Women in Business, said: “Our thriving tech sector is a key priority for the Women in Business Group moving forward. By creating accessible tech opportunities, we can not only address Northern Ireland’s current skills shortage, but also work to generate economic prosperity.
“Our inaugural Women in Tech Awards served as a pointed reminder of the world-leading tech talent here on our doorstep and we’re delighted to welcome FinTrU, an indigenous company, as our latest partner.
“Having collaborated closely on the innovative Press Refresh programme, this is an exciting next step that will see FinTrU continue to open doors and unlock opportunities for women in tech locally.”
Sinead Carville, chief human resources officer at FinTrU, added: “Encouraging and supporting women to fulfil their potential in business is something we are incredibly passionate about.
“As a tech firm with deep roots in Northern Ireland, we’ve seen first-hand how quickly the sector has grown, after investment in NI tech firms reached record highs in 2021.
“By harnessing this rapid growth, we can continue to enable women across the broad spectrum of technology.”
FinTrU now joins a roster of Women in Business partners which includes Allstate NI, Amazon, Danske Bank, Glandore, MCS, NIE Networks, Pinsent Masons and Virgin Business, as well as educational partners Ulster University, Queen’s University and Belfast Met.
