Royal Bank of Scotland: Helping women find careers in tech
Royal Bank of Scotland has partnered with Code First Girls, a non-profit organisation committed to bridging the gender gap in technology. This innovative collaboration, initiated in March 2023, is aimed at providing displaced women with a fresh start in the tech industry.
Royal Bank of Scotland is a subsidiary of NatWest Group, which is a Business in the Community (BITC) member and has supported us for over 40 years. As a member, NatWest Group has demonstrated its commitment to responsible business; working with BITC to support small businesses, committing to the Race at Work Charter and being recognised as one of the Times Top 50 Employers of Gender Equality in 2023.
Code First Girls is dedicated to working to reduce the gender diversity gap in the tech industry on a global scale and has already delivered £75 million worth of free technology education in the UK and offered free education and employment opportunities to more than 110,000 women.
A Commitment to Displaced Ukrainians
The primary objective of the Royal Bank of Scotland and Code First Girls partnership is to empower displaced female Ukrainians by equipping them with skills and offering them opportunities in coding and software engineering. This alliance aligns with Royal Bank of Scotland’s long-standing commitment to fostering diversity and supporting marginalised communities.
The programme is the first of its kind in Scotland, and has given 54 displaced women the opportunity to embark on a new career journey. Since March, recruitment centres have opened at the Ukrainian Community Centre, Royal Terrace Edinburgh and the Leith Ukrainian refugee accommodation aboard the MS Victoria cruise liner.
How the programme worked
Over an 8 week period, the programme offered comprehensive training and skills development, while also giving participants the opportunity to pursue a full Code First Girls degree and secure permanent roles within Royal Bank of Scotland.
This partnership with Code First Girls is an extension of Royal Bank of Scotland’s commitment to assisting displaced Ukrainians. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has created an urgent need to support thousands of displaced families and individuals and so, over the past year, the bank has collaborated with Edinburgh City Council and the Scottish Government to establish a Welcome Centre within their headquarters. To date, this site has distributed over 10,000 welcome packs, including essentials like children’s toothbrushes, books, and sanitary packs.
“As a bank we recognise that we have a unique opportunity to utilise our resources and influence real change to improve lives in Scotland.”
Wincie Wong, Head of Workforce Technical Capability, Digital X at Royal Bank of Scotland
Wincie Wong, Head of Workforce Technical Capability, Digital X at Royal Bank of Scotland, said: “As a bank we recognise that we have a unique opportunity to utilise our resources and influence real change to improve lives in Scotland.
“Our latest partnership with Code First Girls allows us to continue our commitment to helping displaced Ukrainians and empowering women in their careers. Through the programme, we will provide bespoke coding and software engineering as well as opportunities to gain work experience and be supported into employment.”
“We believe that by empowering women in technology, we can help to build a more diverse and inclusive industry that is better equipped to meet the demands of today and innovate for the future.”
Anna Brailsford, CEO of Code First Girls
Anna Brailsford, CEO of Code First Girls, said: “We are thrilled to partner with Royal Bank to offer this new opportunity for displaced Ukrainian women to learn new skills and embark on a career path in coding and software engineering.
“We believe that by empowering women in technology, we can help to build a more diverse and inclusive industry that is better equipped to meet the demands of today and innovate for the future.”
This partnership between the Royal Bank of Scotland and Code First Girls embodies the power of collaboration to drive meaningful change and support communities in a time of need.
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