Women in tech groups ‘can’t run on inspiration alone’

Groups supporting women in science, technology, engineering and maths (Stem) fields are struggling to survive as corporations’ shrinking budgets, and cultural changes, see diversity strategies take a back seat.

Ada Lovelace Day – a global annual celebration of women working in Stem – is on borrowed time.

Named after a 19th century female mathematician, the day came into being in 2009 when it was created by Suw Charman-Anderson.

She had graduated with a science degree, but felt “fundamentally unwelcome” as one of just three women in her class. And she later grew tired of going to tech conferences and not seeing any women on stage.

Ms Charman-Anderson says that the initiative is now running out of funds again, as almost happened two years ago.

“We’ve basically limped on since then,” she says. “But I can’t keep making the financial sacrifice.”

It’s not a high-budget operation. At its peak, Ms Charman-Anderson secured £55,000 in sponsorship for 12 months. She says that in other years it has been less than half of that despite high attendance figures at events.

Ms Charman-Anderson adds that she is often told by the tech community that Ada Lovelace Day is inspirational, but it rarely translates into a much-needed injection of cash.

“Organisations can’t run on inspiration alone,” she says. “Everyone in the Women in Stem sector is struggling for money. That’s always been the case, but it seems to have got a lot worse.”