Closing the Gender Gap in Technology
With over 66000 young people impacted over the last 10 years, learn more about our activity in our 2023-2024 Social Impact Report
A message from our CEO
This year has presented significant challenges for the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) sector, with budget cuts leading to the closure of impactful organisations like the Tech Talent Charter, Women Who Code, and Girls in Tech in the US. Despite these setbacks, InnovateHer remains resolute in our mission to create a more inclusive future in tech.
In October, we launched our first-ever trend report, where we asked 1,200 students to share their perspectives on tech and career aspirations. Their responses revealed promising levels of interest in tech, with 78% of girls expressing enthusiasm – but worryingly, only 39% view it as a career path. The report highlighted how barriers like gender stereotypes and lack of representation continue to push girls out of the tech pipeline, impacting their long-term career choices. Meanwhile, boys as young as 12 reported considering financial responsibilities when choosing careers, underscoring how early career expectations are shaped by societal norms.
With the election of a new Labour government in the UK, we are optimistic about aligning our efforts with anticipated educational and technological reforms that we hope will reinforce our mission to make tech an inclusive field for all.
Yet, we know our work is far from over, and we cannot achieve lasting change alone.
We need your continued partnership and support to dismantle these barriers and inspire the next generation of tech innovators. Together, we can forge a future where everyone, regardless of background, has the opportunity to thrive.
Thank you for standing with us in the journey towards a more inclusive world.
– Chelsea Slater, CEO and Co-Founder
At a glance…
students were reached between Sept 23-24
new schools joined us this year
schools were reached through our programmes
events were delivered, including 4 major events!
%
of our events were delivered by our Ambassadors
students signed up to our eLearning platform
We hosted 4 major events
reaching an additional 2,150 students!
Diversity and Demographics
We started to collect anonymous diversity data at the start of the academic year to help track that we are reaching our impact metrics. 77% of students fill out the EDI form fields.
On our platform:
- 66% of our students identify as White British or Irish
- 18% identify as Black
- 11.5% identify as Asian
We are on a mission to reach and impact as many underrepresented groups as possible. We have recently reviewed and changed how we measure social mobility, and next year have made a commitment that 60% of students we engage with are in areas of most need.
Read our report in full
Meet Lola!
We interviewed Lola as part of our Cyber Security course feedback. Students had high opinions of the course gaining valuable insights into malware and online safety. Her experience inspired her to explore technology further, connecting her love for architecture with innovative design.
Lola, a brilliant Year 7 student!
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
My name’s Lola and I’m in Year 7. My favourite subject is maths because I like working with numbers and things like algebra and stuff like that. I play video games quite often, and I play football. I like Guardians of the galaxy volume 3, [because] I like how it goes into depth about one of the characters and their backstories and how it’s very detailed and emotional.
Tell us about what careers you are thinking of and what inspires you.
I’d like to either go into architecture or football. [I’m inspired by] people who have already pursued the career [football or architecture] and how they have succeeded at it and how good they are at it.
Before you worked with InnovateHer, did you already know about Cyber Security?
I knew a little bit. I knew about things like malware but I didn’t really know how things worked. I’ve heard of a Trojan horse, but I didn’t know what it was.
What did you think of the course?
My favourite part of it was watching the videos, how it explains in depth how all the different malwares work and how you can protect your cyber security in your own personal situation.
How do you now feel about Cyber Security?
I’m very excited about it because knowing that there’s quite a lot of jobs to go into in the future with that kind of subject is quite motivating.
Has it made you think differently about taking a STEM GCSE?
Definitely, I was going to take IT or computer science anyway, but this has made me want to do it even more.
Has it changed your mind on your future career path?
It’s made me think about going into more of the techie side of things, like with architecture maybe, like designing in that sense, like IT and things like that.
Thank you InnovateHer and BAE systems for this opportunity.
Our Cyber Security Course!
One of the big landmarks for us in 2023 was the launch of our Cyber Security Course which was sponsored by BAE Systems.
In the course, students take on the role of an apprentice and go on a learning journey with two Cyber Security Specialists to understand more about Cyber and how it may affect them on a daily practical level.
– 1064 students took part in the launch of the course.
– 55.61% of students who completed the course said ‘It’s changed my mind and I’d like to explore more
– 48.3% of students felt more confident exploring a career in this field
Our vision for the future
As we reflect on the past year, we’re proud of the strides we’ve made together. In 2024, we welcomed two new team members, Leanne and Declan, who have brought fresh energy and ideas to InnovateHer. We launched new products to better serve our students, and our dedicated board continued to play a pivotal role in guiding our mission forward. Through it all, we’ve stayed true to our vision: building a world where everyone has equal access to a career in tech.
Looking ahead to 2025, our ambitions are even greater. We’re focused on reaching more students than ever, converting their interest into meaningful engagement on our platform. Our programmes will continue to equip young people with the confidence and skills they need to thrive, inspiring them to take action toward their future. We’re committed to increasing our support for areas in greatest need, where we can have the most impact.
As we expand, we’re also exploring new opportunities and revenue streams to ensure InnovateHer can scale sustainably. With your continued support, we can grow our impact and bring lasting change to even more communities.
Thank you for being part of our journey. Together, we’re making tech a field where everyone can belong and succeed.
Read our report in full
Ways to Get Involved
Become a partner
Join our growing network of organisations committed to driving equity in the tech industry. Receive tailored support, including EDI health checks, expert training, and opportunities to inspire the next generation.
Let’s work together to shape an inclusive future.
Support our work
For just £6.50, you can give a student access to our e-learning platform, opening doors to careers in tech.
Your donation helps us reach more young people, delivering the skills and confidence they need to succeed.
Every contribution counts in breaking barriers.
Join us as an Ambassador
Passionate about empowering young people? Ambassadors volunteer to share their career stories, deliver workshops, or represent InnovateHer at events. Your experience could inspire students to explore opportunities they never imagined. Together, we can open doors to tech.
Spread the word
Champion our mission by sharing our work with your network. Whether it’s promoting our impact reports, celebrating success stories, or amplifying our events, your support helps us reach more individuals and organisations.
Be part of the movement for change.
Downloadable Resources!
Choose to download and read our past Social Impact Reports or even share the news in our downloadable infographics and media kits