To celebrate International Women’s Day, Telefónica Tech is partnering with Microsoft to launch a new programme which aims to drive more females into data science.

The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) predicted that 182,000 new UK jobs in big data and the internet of things will be created by 2020, including roles such as data scientists, analysts, developers and engineers. Currently less than 13% of all data jobs in the UK are held by women and only 5% of computer science graduates in the last 10 years have been female. Telefónica Tech, along with Microsoft, is committed to bridging this gap and driving more women into data science and the technology sector.

The Data Science Programme for Women Returners is an initiative launched as part of International Women’s Day 2019 (8^th March). The programme is led by Microsoft and in partnership with strategic partners around the UK. Telefónica Tech is leading the programme in Scotland.

The programme aims to provide experienced professional females, who are returning to work after a career break or changing career, with initial skills and education in preparation for a new career in data science. Throughout the UK, the programme aims to host 100 women and support them through their first module of Microsoft’s Professional Programme qualification in Data Science. These women will then go on to study online from home over the next six months, before returning to their host’s site for a recruitment day. At this recruitment day candidates will have the chance to apply for a role at Telefónica Tech within the growing Data & AI team.

The training course and first certificate of the qualification is funded by Telefónica Tech. To secure a place we are asking candidates to make a small donation of £10 to Smart Works, a not for profit customer of Telefónica Tech which offers interview clothes, styling advice and interview training to women in need. They provide women who are out of work with the confidence and the practical tools they need to start the next chapter of their lives. Microsoft is matching every donation made to Smart Works as part the programme.