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New diversity platform aims to bridge the UK’s tech diversity gap

Today marks the launch of a new platform that is looking to connect new recruits from minority ethnic and gender backgrounds with UK tech firms in an attempt to bridge the sector’s diversity gap.

The non-profit Colorintech, which is based in London, has been founded by Silicon Valley executive Don McKenzie, alongside Miranda Brawn, Chris Gordon and Ashleigh Ainsley, and is the first UK organisation to argue the case for greater representation and transparency amongst talented young Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) recruits.

A core part of Colorintech’s activities will be lobbying homegrown and foreign tech firms with a UK presence to disclose more data about the diversity of their workforces and encourage a more transparent approach to the issue.

Chief Executive Officer Dion McKenzie, explained the organisation’s vision: “Our mission is to create pathways of success for underrepresented minorities in the innovation economy.

“We want to elicit change among companies, making them realise that a more diverse workforce is not just a moral imperative but it makes business sense as it leads to better financial performance.

“Research shows that companies in the top quartile for gender or racial and ethnic diversity are 35% more likely to have financial returns above their respective national industry medians.

“It’s clear therefore that developing and supporting talent from all backgrounds must become a key factor for companies wanting to succeed in the long-term.”

The UK is currently lagging behind the likes of the US in terms of promoting and encouraging more diverse representation in its tech sector.

Currently BAME make up 13% of the UK’s population and a further 19% of the nation’s applicants to higher education.

However, less than 5% of workers in the country’s tech sector are from ethnic and gender minority backgrounds, which is dwarfed by the 38% of working age BAME individuals working at American tech companies.

Co-founder Miranda Brawn was critical about the poor diversity of the UK’s fastest growing sector and bemoaned the lack of real data available.

She added: “Colorintech wants to put the spotlight on this issue of vital importance to help increase diversity. This platform aims to be the nexus between technology companies and diverse talent, encouraging race diversity and inclusion.

“This will benefit the next generation of BAME leaders, current employees, organisations, the industry as well as the overall UK economy.”

One of the organisation’s first initiatives will be to launch a fellowship programme early next year which will put high-performing BAME students in contact with startups and businesses from the UK’s innovation economy.

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