A new report by (ISC)2 has discovered that 74% of UK IT and tech firms have taken action on diversity in the past 2-5 years, and it's helping them retain top talent.The past several years has seen a frank discourse in the world of tech about the kinds of workplaces we want to build, with many companies taking decisive action to remove discrimination and improve diversity across their workforces. That's the finding of a new study by independent organisation (ISC)2, the world's largest non-profit association of certified cybersecurity professionals.
The independent blind study surveyed the employees of 1,000 organisations in the UK and 250 in the Netherlands, and focused on hiring diversity in IT and cyber-security roles. The results indicated that an impressive 74% of the companies surveyed have recently taken action to improve diversity in age, gender and ethnicity by instituting a specific diversity value or programme.
Companies are definitely taking diversity seriously in the workplace today, with 32% of companies admitting that talent acquisition and retention has been the primary driver behind changes. Around 29% of respondents also confirmed that diversity is simply important to their company and that their workforce should represent the wider demographics seen in society to help it succeed.
Deshini Newman, Managing Director EMEA at (ISC)², commented on the results: "Workplace diversity encompasses multiple factors including gender, ethnicity, age, origin and much more. While it is important to spotlight changes and improvements in individual areas such as gender diversity, the wider diversity make-up of the IT department, cybersecurity teams and the organization as a whole can speak volumes about the realities of inclusiveness, forward-thinking and openness to new ideas and approaches in the workplace."
The full report will be
released by (ISC)2 in its IT and Cybersecurity Diversity whitepaper in July.
Source: Written based on press release
About the author
Brendan is a Sync NI writer with a special interest in the gaming sector, programming, emerging technology, and physics. To connect with Brendan, feel free to send him an email or follow him on Twitter.
Got a news-related tip you’d like to see covered on Sync NI? Email the editorial team for our consideration.
Sign up now for a FREE weekly newsletter showcasing the latest news, jobs and events in NI’s tech sector.
