Why we support women throughout their whole careers

By Emma Grant, Head of Programmes at Manchester Digital

Women remain under-represented across every level of the tech and digital industry. Research shows that from early on, girls are under-represented in studying STEM subjects, which carries through to university level and beyond.

For those who do pursue a career into a STEM, tech or digital, many barriers can still exist within their career pathway and many women are still leaving the industry. The 2025 Lovelace Report stated that every year between 20,000 and 30,000 women leave the tech industry, which has an economic impact of up to £2.2bn. Most reports estimate that women only hold around a fifth of technical roles within the tech industry - and this figure hasn’t significantly increased.

These are the reasons why we set up the Digital Her initiative in 2018. Digital Her was created to change the ongoing narrative and create real impact for young women in education and women who had already begun a tech career within Greater Manchester.

Digital Her is run by Manchester Digital, the tech industry body for Greater Manchester, and supported through ongoing sponsorship by the leading tech businesses in the region. At the heart of this initiative is building a community where everyone belongs and every voice is heard and supported.

The Digital Her motto is ‘If she can see it, she can be it’, and focuses on providing strong Real Role Models for young women, and importantly to empower them with the knowledge and confidence to progress forward. Our mission is to inspire girls to strive and support women to thrive in the tech sector.

Over the past eight years, Digital Her has grown and developed enormously and now underpins a women’s whole tech career through community and mentor support. We have won a number of awards for our work, including the Best Tech Not-For-Profit of the Year at the She Can Code Power Up awards in 2025, and the Diversity and Inclusion Award at Computing’s Women in Tech Excellence Awards in 2024.

DigitalHer initiative include:

• Regular events and panel talks, including our Tech Leader Talks for International Women’s Day

• MentorHER - mentoring with purpose programme

• EnableHER - leaning into leadership programme

• Digital Her Level 4 Apprenticeship

• InspireHER - Inspire and retain internal women in tech with insightful lunch and learn sessions and workshops.

• Curiosity Camps for women career switchers and upskillers

• Digital Her Days for college students to consider a career in tech

• Real Role Model meet ups and annual events

•   The Digital Her Podcast

•   The Inspiration Wall - a 400+Real Role Model community

So far in terms of impact, Digital Her has reached nearly8,000 women; supported over 200 schools and colleges and built a community of400 Real Role Models who give up their time to encourage women to explore a career in tech.

However, women are still massively under-represented within our industry so we still have a lot of work to do. We’re incredibly proud of how many school-age girls we’ve engaged with and how many women in tech who have been involved in Digital Her in any way.

How to get involved?

Real Role Models

If you’re a woman or non-binary person who works in tech, you can become one of our Real Role Models to help inspire younger women.

Become a role model

MentorHER

Later this year, we’ll open up applications for our cohort four for the Mentor Her scheme.

Check out the DigitalHer website for updates.

Sponsorship

Our events can only happen because of sponsorship and partnering with leading tech businesses in the North West. If any businesses would like to get involved in this multi-award winning initiative, please contact Claire@manchesterdigital.com.