Unlocking women's potential in tech.
Opening up career paths for women and strengthening the UK's future tech workforce.
I’m a candidate I’m an employer
Why this programme matters
Talent is everywhere. Opportunity should be too.
TechFirst Women's Programme helps motivated women with transferable skills build careers in high-growth technology sectors while helping employers access the talent they need to grow.
300
Paid employment opportunities where women can learn, contribute and build experience that lasts.
£4m
Government investment focused on lasting careers, not short-term interventions.
80%
of placements will be with SMEs — teams where new talent can make a visible difference.
20 / 80
Split between entry-level and mid-career roles
For candidates
Change direction without starting from scratch
Move into tech with confidence – and keep progressing once you're there.
Whether you're returning to work, changing careers or ready for something new, TechFirst Women's Programme helps you take your next step into tech with confidence. Over six months, you'll build technical skills, work with mentors and join a community of women moving towards the same goal. When you're ready, we'll connect you with employers looking for people like you.
Coaching and interview preparation
Training for frontier-tech roles
Support from industry mentors
Access to our community
Hands-on project experience
Connections to hiring employers
Your journey
Six stages to job-ready.
There is always a clear next step — and real preparation before a candidate reaches an employer.
Step 01
Apply
Tell us about your experience and ambitions.
Step 02
Eligibility
Quick check to every placement is the right fit.
Step 03
Learn
Show your strengths through a short onboarding assessment.
Step 04
Join the community
Connect with like-minded people, share experiences and grow your network.
Step 05
Training
Coaching, interview prep and frontier-tech skills.
Step 06
Matched
Browse vacancies or get matched to roles by skills and region.
Application · 1
Shortlisted
Application · 2
Interview scheduled
Application · 3
Interview completed
Application · 4
Offer
Opportunities
Matched by skills and region.
Candidates and vacancies are tagged by skills and UK region, to every shortlist shows a clear match score.
London South East South West East of England East Midlands West Midlands North East North West Yorkshire & the Humber Scotland WalesNorthern Ireland RemoteLaunch preview · Illustrative vacancies, not yet open for applications.
London
For employers
Take the hard work out of hiring.
Reach skilled, motivated women your usual hiring routes may miss.
TechFirst Women's Programme connects employers with motivated candidates who have built technical skills through expert-led training and bring practical strengths from previous roles — from communication and problem-solving to project delivery, customer focus and leadership
Candidates vetted and trained before you meet them- Post vacancies and receive skill-matched shortlists
- One standard interview scorecard
- Lower cost and risk of hiring for SMEs
Benefits for your business
End-to-end recruitment support
Help shaping suitable vacancies, attracting talent, and managing the recruitment and placement journey.
Pre-screened, role-matched candidates
Access to assessed candidates, with structured matching and facilitated introductions to reduce hiring risk.
Onboarding and retention support
Guidance on integrating participants, with regular check-ins and ongoing support to encourage retention, progression and success.
Training for your wider workforce
Opportunities for existing employees to access selected foundational and technical training in areas such as AI, cyber security and frontier technologies.
Access to specialist expertise
Ongoing technical guidance, skills development advice, mentoring and knowledge transfer from specialist training partners throughout the six-month placement.
Build long-term organisational capability
A supported placement model designed particularly for SMEs, helping employers gain immediate talent while developing skills and capability across the wider business.
Employer journey
From vacancy to lasting capability.
Share Your Vacancies
Tell us about your roles and skills needs.
Shape the Opportunity
We'll help you create inclusive, attractive vacancies.
Meet Matched Talent
Receive pre-screened candidates matched to your needs.
Interview & Onboarding
We'll support you from selection through to onboarding.
Get Ongoing Support
Benefit from dedicated support throughout the six-month placement.
Build Your Capability
Access training and technical expertise for your new hire and wider team.
PROGRAMME PARTNERS
Training & regional partners
Frequently asked questions
What you need to know.
We’ll publish full participation details as soon as they are confirmed.
Still have a question?
Speak directly with the TechFirst Women’s Programme team about taking part.
Contact usTechFirst Women’s Programme is designed to help 300 women across the UK move into paid jobs in six high-growth technology sectors, including AI, cyber security, engineering biology, quantum technologies, semiconductors and advanced communications. It’s part of the government’s broader TechFirst campaign – a £187m investment in national skills.
The programme supports women at different stages of their careers, including those looking to transition into technology, return to work after a career break or progress within the sector. Through skills development, mentoring, career support and employer matching, participants gain access to real employment opportunities and ongoing support to help them succeed.
For employers, TechFirst Women’s Programme creates access to skilled women with transferable experience, widening talent pipelines and helping address skills shortages in strategically important technology sectors.
TechFirst Women’s Programme focuses on six high growth technology sectors:
- Artificial intelligence (AI)
- Cyber security
- Engineering biology
- Quantum technologies
- Semiconductors
- Advanced communications
Women remain significantly underrepresented in technology, accounting for around https://www.theglobalcity.uk/PositiveWebsite/media/Research-reports/Untapped-Digital-Talent-the-3bn-Opportunity-Full.pdf; 20% in AI and 16% in cyber security. At the same time, employers across the sector are facing challenges finding people with the skills they need.
TechFirst Women’s Programme aims to tackle both sides of this challenge: helping more women access technology careers, while supporting employers to find people with the skills, experience and different perspectives they need to grow.
This, in turn, will help drive a more productive, innovative and competitive UK economy, by supporting technology businesses with high-growth potential.
The programme launched on Tuesday 13th October (Ada Lovelace Day), during Women in Tech Week 2026, and has a target of helping 300 women move into paid technology roles by the end of March 2027. Once a role has been created and a candidate recruited, both the employer and employee will continue to receive support from programme partners for a six-month period.
Interested in the programme?
Speak directly with the TechFirst Women’s Programme team about taking part.
Contact us