In the UK, we’ve made great progress in diversifying our workforces in many industries, but STEM is still a challenging area to solve. With the latest research finding that women make up just 26% of the STEM workforce, and the cybersecurity industry sees only 22% of employees come from ethnic minority backgrounds, many more steps must be taken.
As January each year celebrates International Mentoring Day, we hear from three technology leaders discussing the importance of mentors in encouraging young people into a wider variety of careers, and what action organisations can take to support this.
Bridging the skills gap
The lack of diversity in industries such as technology comes at a heavy price. Dave Birchall, Chief People Officer at Node4, points out that, more so than others, “the technology industry is sometimes overlooked by young people considering their future career paths due to its complex nature – particularly if they don’t know someone in their close circle who can offer guidance. The breadth of roles, disciplines, and potential career routes in technology can be daunting and difficult to understand.”
Darren Thomson, Field CTO EMEAI at Commvault & Board Member of TeenTech, agrees and emphasises that, “despite younger generations growing up with technology by their side, the industry is struggling to close a skills gap which has been widening as the rapid development of new technologies continues to accelerate. Over recent years many initiatives have been put in place in schools to generate interest in STEM from a younger age, but as students get into their teenage years, one specific factor that must not be overlooked is the value of mentors.”
Schools are the perfect foundation
Mentors are an untapped resource that schools in particular can and should take advantage of, to encourage younger people into specialist areas such as technology and STEM as a whole.
“A mentor can get to know their mentees one-on-one,” Thomson explains, “and provide invaluable insights and more tailored support to their specific interests. Especially for young people from more diverse backgrounds, having a mentor who is the same gender or ethnicity as them can really help the students feel empowered to follow a STEM career path. It can’t be understated how vital it is for better representation, especially in an industry that has traditionally been more male dominated.”
Birchall adds that “mentoring from experienced individuals or those with diverse perspectives is a transformative process for people of all ages, backgrounds, and stages of their careers. Having someone to turn to for guidance and advice helps combat challenges like imposter syndrome and supports individuals in progressing in their careers or growing within their current roles. Similarly, mentors are invaluable for young people still figuring out their career paths. This is particularly significant for those from different backgrounds who might have had varying access to opportunities. Hearing from someone established in a career can open their eyes to possibilities they might not have considered or even known about.”
Thomson notes how “the benefits are two-fold, too. Not only do the teenagers gain advice and support, but the mentors also find it incredibly rewarding to work with these young people and help to inspire enthusiasm for and a love of technology.”
But technology isn’t the only concept that can be offputting due to its complexity, as Bruce Martin, CEO at Tax Systems, reveals.
“Most people will agree that financial security is the cornerstone of stability, success and peace of mind. Without it, individuals can face unnecessary stress and uncertainty around money – which whilst it can’t buy you happiness, it can certainly help ensure your most basic needs are met, as well as enable the attainment of levels higher up Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. However, the lack of financial literacy and education can make it harder for people to make informed decisions about saving, investing, budgeting, and managing debt. Despite this, many people are not taught the necessary skills to achieve and maintain financial security.”
This is where experts and mentors alike within schools can give additional support, as Martin calls for financial education to be incorporated into the school curriculum. “By teaching financial literacy at an early age, we can equip the younger generation with the tools they need to manage their money and navigate challenging economic situations. This foundation is crucial for helping individuals build strong financial habits that will serve them well throughout their lives.”
So schools are the ideal starting point – but they can’t do this all on their own. So how can organisations and their employees get involved?
How to shape the future
Organisations are full of experts in a vast array of fields, and these people are all perfect candidates for supporting students in schools.
“I’ve been a board member of TeenTech for over 8 years,” enthuses Thomson, “a charity which helps young people learn about the opportunities for them in STEM. And those opportunities are endless! It’s not all about coding (unless you want it to be!) – there are a wealth of job roles that fall under STEM that we want to encourage young people to pursue, from engineers and technicians to designers and marketers. I’m excited to see where this year takes us as Commvault is now a proud sponsor of TeenTech too, and will provide support, including mentors, to encourage and educate even more young people aspiring to join our industry!”
Birchall also notes how “Node4 has partnered with the Early Careers Foundation (ECF) to participate in their mentoring program and share the benefits of working in the technology sector. ECF is a fantastic organisation that connects employees like ours with students across the UK to create partnerships that will hopefully shape their future success.
“We are thrilled to have this opportunity to mentor and support the next generation, whether they aim to enter the technology industry, pursue an alternative career path, or are still unsure about their next steps. At Node4, we believe everyone is made for more, and we are committed to helping shape the paths of young people and preventing them from being held back from the careers they dream of.”
Part of this success relies on the UK improving financial literacy across the population, as Tax Systems’ Martin stated earlier, to ensure that everyone has the ability to thrive. He argues that “the demand for financial literacy is growing amongst adults too, especially as inflation continues to rise and belts need to be tightened more than before. In fact, recent studies show that 39% of adults in the UK (20.3 million) don’t feel confident managing their money. It’s clear that financial literacy education should extend beyond schools and workplaces can play a crucial role in providing this. Offering employees the opportunities to improve their financial literacy can reduce stress, increase productivity, and improve overall job satisfaction.”
Having greater support at a younger age has endless benefits, from building confidence in challenging topics to inspiring a love for new subjects, and there’s a world of experts who can be that support and role model for somebody. Be the change you want to see in the world.