Scotland Women in Technology (SWIT), exists to champion, celebrate, and invest in women in the technology sector within Scotland. Founded in 2008, SWIT is a not-for-profit organization to put gender equality at the forefront of the technology industry. It is run by a board of committed volunteers who have the vision and alignment to promote and champion gender at the heart of our proposition.
Our commitment to equality is one of the driving forces behind our partnership with Cisco Academy. This is an industry-led programme to upskill and reskill women into junior level cyber security positions, including pathway to graduate apprenticeship in cyber. The participants are from a mix of sectors, and careers. Some in tech upskilling, some outwith tech and reskilling for a career move. This course is delivered by GCU by an all-female academic staff. CISCO and SWIT support participants with monthly connect-ups to raise aware of Scotland’s cyber industry, employers, and jobs to support networking. The first cohort of participants will graduate in December 2022.
Championing diversity and gender equality in the technology sector, both now and for future generation, is a key priority for SWIT. We want to shine a spotlight on some of Scotland’s most inspirational female technology leaders and encourage more young women to pursue a career in technology and innovation.
In partnership with SmartSTEMS, SWIT are providing role models to provide insight into their careers. The aim to paint a picture of roles in STEM and serve as a practical guide for those considering following in their footsteps. Role models take part in a Q&A session where young people can ask question about the roles.