TC is a government-backed, industry-led membership group that provides networks and resources to over 700 signatory organisations to advance diversity and inclusion (D&I) efforts.
Since its founding in 2015, the TTC has built a community of thousands of D&I professionals and more than 800 tech employers, representing nearly 250,000 tech workers.
The year Diversity in Technology The report collects and collates thousands of insights and data points that paint a picture of diversity in the UK tech sector to help organisations change and evolve their approach.
Companies are ‘quietly abandoning’ D&I strategies
However, after nine years, the organisation has taken the “difficult decision” to close its doors, with companies’ D&I strategies becoming “increasingly closed”.
“The environment we face and industry priorities are immeasurably changed,” the TTC said in a statement.
“In September 2023, the World Economic Forum reported that the future of D&I initiatives in the United States is under threat.
“Then in February of this year, the Tech Talent Charter annual meeting Diversity in Technology The report, based on D&I data from over 700 UK technology companies, reports a similar shift in the landscape.
The TTC noted that while just three years ago companies were vocal about improving equality and investing in action plans to improve D&I, today the direction has changed.
The issue remains highly prevalent, but fueled by economic, political and social pressures, too many organizations are “quietly abandoning” their D&I strategies, putting at risk all the gains they have made so far.
“Many in our network have told us that their organisations’ D&I strategies are becoming increasingly closed off, with efforts being shelved to prioritise other business goals,” the TTC said.
“As we hear more and more stories from D&I experts and advocates struggling for support as teams are dismantled, processes are eliminated or absorbed, and voluntary initiatives are forced to retreat due to changing business attitudes and overloaded desks, it’s clear that something needs to change.
“Against this backdrop, Tech Talent Charter has made the very difficult decision to close its doors and our Board of Directors has voted to dissolve the organization.”
The year 2023 has seen an exodus of women from the tech industry, making it a particularly low year for representation.
Several studies have found that less than 3% of VC funding for AI startups, and less than 2% overall, goes to companies founded by women.
And in 2023, the ONS figures highlighted a stark exodus of women from tech, with the agency saying more than 3,000 women left the industry in the first half of the year alone, despite an overall increase in the tech workforce.
The tech industry needs a major reset
But the group isn’t giving up — instead, it hopes the decision to close highlights the need for a new focus.
“The TTC is closing because we believe the tech industry needs a major rethink on how it approaches DEI to prevent years of progress being reversed.”
“We see this inflection point as essential to refocus our efforts, refine our methods, and drive greater commitment and investment at organizational, industry and regional levels.”
As a long-standing collaborator, techUK will continue to provide TTC research and resources free of charge.
“What the TTC has achieved over the past decade has been extraordinary,” said Amari de Alwis, a founding member of the TTC.
“Its groundbreaking work helped transform Britain’s industry into a fairer, more successful one, and while it may not continue in the same form, its legacy will be felt for a long time.”
With diversity and representation in the tech field under scrutiny, it’s more important than ever to voice your opinion.
If you’re passionate about diversity, inclusion and advancing the cause in the channel, consider attending the CRN and Computing Women and Diversity in Tech and Channel Festival 2024. Click here for more information and the early agenda.
This article originally appeared on CRN UK.
