Barnsley College joins national programme to help women build careers in tech

Barnsley College is part of a groundbreaking national programme aiming to support women into paid jobs in cutting-edge tech roles, from artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity, to engineering biology and quantum technologies.

The College has been selected to provide specialist AI training through the TechFirst Women’s Programme, building on its work to develop digital skills in Barnsley, the UK’s first government-backed Tech Town.

Now accepting applications, the programme aims to support at least 300 women across the UK into paid employment. It will help women at different stages of their careers, including those starting out, returning after a career break, changing careers or looking to progress in technology.

Led by innovation and growth company Plexal on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the programme forms part of the government’s wider £187m TechFirst investment in skills. It aims to address the underrepresentation of women, who accounted for just 21 per cent of the UK technology workforce in 2024.

Working with partners across the country, the programme will provide skills development, mentoring and career support, matching participants with paid job opportunities. Technical training and support will continue once participants are in work, while employers will receive help with recruitment, onboarding and staff development.

Helen Foster, Director for Adults and Higher Skills at Barnsley College, said: “The TechFirst Women’s Programme is about opening doors for women while helping employers access the skills and talent they need.

“We know there are women at different stages of their careers whose experience and transferable skills could make a real difference in technology. This programme will help them build on those strengths, develop new skills and take their next step into a sector where women remain underrepresented.

“As the UK’s first Tech Town, Barnsley has an opportunity to show how technology can create new possibilities for people. We’re proud to bring the College’s AI expertise to this national programme and help more women benefit from those opportunities.”

Women interested in taking part, and employers looking to recruit through the programme, can find out more at www.techfirstwomen.com.