Launching on Ada Lovelace Day, the new MentorHer programme will offer 6 months of mentoring for women in early careers.
The MentorHER programme is an offshoot of Digital Her and aims to help young women develop their career. MentorHER will consist of a number of practical and impactful workshops and a six-month mentor programme will be offered to women who will be matched with suitable partners.
MentorHER is a sustainable programme, which asks mentees to commit to becoming a mentor when they have progressed in order to ensure women, as a community, pay it forward. In the future, there will also be a number of other six month mentorships, including schemes for university students, career changers and middle to senior career progressors.
Digital Her was launched by Manchester Digital in 2018 and has already been hugely successful in supporting girls and women with their tech careers. During this time, they have reached almost 4000 women and girls, supported 200 schools and colleges and created a community of more than 230 Digital Her ‘real role models’.
One of Manchester Digital’s key aims is to increase diversity in the tech and digital sector across the North West. As well as Digital Her, they currently run an industry-led apprenticeship programme, as well as events, training and networking opportunities.
Speaking about the launch of the mentoring programme, Katie Gallagher, Managing Director of Manchester Digital, said, “We’re really proud to launch our new MentorHer programme.”
“Research shows that women leave the tech industry at a rate of 45% more than men.”
“On top of this, McKinsey research found that only 86 women are promoted for every 100 men.”
“Our industry members have been telling us that one of their ongoing challenges with increasing diversity is to retain women, not just recruiting them.”
“So at a time when we’re trying to encourage women into the tech industry, we also need to ensure women have the support they need to stay within the industry.”
