IT Distance Learning News

Women drawn to IT firms offering flexible working

Flexible working is among the policies which companies could implement to attract more women, an expert asserts.

Jerri Barrett, director of marketing at the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology, says there are a number of best practices which businesses can implement to attract more female IT training course graduates.

She claims that many female workers are ambitious and value professional development, including training in both technical and leadership, mentoring and networking skills.

Creating a culture which encourages flexible scheduling and establishing clear and balanced promotion criteria also draw these IT training course graduates to particular organisations, she says.

Ms Barrett suggests that mid-level IT workers are also likely to value programmes which take parental leave into consideration, as well as related concerns such as emergency childcare and on and off-site daycare.

Recently, director of womenintechnology.co.uk Maggie Berry called for more girls to take part in IT training courses, as this would improve the pipeline of talent entering the sector.