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Monday 19 May 2014

Network Rail recognised as IT ambassador with award win

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A competition which aims to dispel myths around jobs in IT and encourage girls to consider a career in the sector has landed Network Rail the IT Ambassador Award at the Real IT Awards, held by The Corporate IT Forum.

Last autumn, Network Rail’s chief information officer, Susan Cooklin, aided by six women from within her 500-strong IT team, launched Could IT Be You? to show girls aged 16-18 what working in IT is really about and the career opportunities open to them. Susan and her team saw the competition as a way to begin addressing the significant gender imbalance in IT roles which exists at Network Rail and many other big companies.

The latest figures from e-skills UK shows the proportion of women working in technology roles in the UK has more than halved since the 1980s* despite technology becoming an increasingly integral part of our every-day lives. A survey for Network Rail of 16-24 year old women in Britain revealed that two-thirds have not considered a career in IT.

Network Rail saw off three other companies – GSK, Pepsico and The Wellcome Trust – to scoop first prize. Following the win, the company has today announced that it plans to continue the competition in 2014, which sees the winner receiving their first year’s university tuition paid for by Network Rail and two weeks paid work experience at the company.

The judges commented on why they chose Could IT Be You?: "Our winner recognised a worrying trend and decided to do something about it, not just internally but also by positive engagement externally producing a very positive outcome for both their organisation and the wider IT industry. They can be very proud of their achievements and we recognise them on behalf of all IT professionals."

Speaking about the win, Susan Cooklin said: “Popular culture has helped create a perception amongst young women that a career in IT is all about writing code in basement offices – the reality couldn't be further from the truth. Could IT Be You? aims to break down those myths and help young women realise how the skills and behaviours they already have, such as good communications, problem solving and working creatively, are exactly what business leaders are after.

“I had an idea and my team worked incredibly hard to make it into a reality. I’m exceptionally proud that together we’ve started to make a difference, and this award can only serve to help us get more young people – and women in particular – inspired by technology. Congratulations to my team, we’ve now got to do it all again for 2014.”

The Could IT Be You? team toured dozens of schools across the country to promote the new competition. They also launched a new website and published video diaries on YouTube explaining how they got into their current roles. Competition entrants were asked to compile a short essay showing how they have used (or could use) technology to make something happen. The authors of the top 80 entries were then invited to a networking day at the company's Milton Keynes national centre, where they took part in group activities and heard inspiring talks from top businesswomen including Katie Bassett from CSC and Jane Hamilton, employment editor at The Sun.

The winner – Zoe Moore, from Sponne School in Northamptonshire – will have her first year's university fees paid for by Network Rail. Along with five runners up, she will also get a two-week paid work placement with the Network Rail IT team this summer. Zoe's essay proposed a type of intelligent scanner which would read your school book text and then come up with suggested test questions to help you revise. She called on the media to get behind IT career opportunities for girls and 'stop portraying the industry as being for tech nerds sitting in their basements'.

Sarah Jane Crawford, Network Rail IT project manager, explained why she wanted to get involved with the competition: “The IT industry is one of the most far reaching and fast moving industries out there. Every major company relies on technology to keep running, whether it’s high street chains managing their supply chains, websites and finances through IT, or Network Rail, which manages trains, infrastructure and corporate services.

“Working in IT means that the type of company you can work for is not limited and the experience you can gain is massive. It’s exciting, creative and fast paced and it’s an industry that has thrived despite the economic challenges of recent years.

"When I was 17, I didn’t imagine I would be working in the IT industry, but I kept my options open. I completed my studies in subjects I enjoyed and did my degree in Psychology and Philosophy at Leeds University. Once these were complete I looked at every option and I couldn’t be happier with what I’ve ended up doing.”