Women in Tech Week returns with 100 free UK events

Women in Tech Week will return to the UK with more than 100 free events. The five-day programme will run nationwide, with in-person and online sessions.

Organised by WeAreTechWomen, the initiative is entering its third year and is expected to be its largest yet. Participating organisations include Accenture, PwC, NatWest, Bank of America and the House of Commons, alongside charities, universities, professional networks and community groups.

The week will open in Manchester with a launch session hosted by Lloyds Banking Group. The programme will cover topics including artificial intelligence, data, cyber security, career development, leadership, confidence, wellbeing and future skills.

Events are planned in Manchester, Cardiff, Milton Keynes, Oxford, Birmingham, London, Bristol, Leeds and Cheshire, with virtual sessions available more widely. The schedule includes breakfasts, networking sessions, leadership discussions and practical workshops.

Among the planned events, Akamai's Female Learning and Mentoring Experience in London will examine research into the experiences of women returning to technology after a career break. In Birmingham, Intercity and Elevate Women in Tech X WITBham will explore how sponsorship can help women gain visibility and access new opportunities.

Other sessions include a Cardiff event bringing together women in technology to discuss leading teams and career progression; a Santander breakfast in Milton Keynes focused on technology, data and AI; and an Oxford workshop on using AI to document achievements and support career development. In Leeds, Women in Risk Executive will host a leadership and career development event aimed at increasing the number of women moving into senior roles.

Retention concerns

The programme comes amid continued concern over the retention and progression of women in the technology sector. According to the 2025 Lovelace Report, produced by WeAreTechWomen and Oliver Wyman, women leaving technology roles or moving between employers costs the UK technology sector between £2 billion and £3.5 billion a year because of broken career frameworks.

The government cited the report when it established the Women in Tech Taskforce. Its findings have added weight to a wider debate over hiring practices, career structures and representation in senior technology positions.

Dr Vanessa Vallely OBE, founder and chief executive officer of WeAreTechWomen, is due to open the launch event in Manchester with remarks on the current landscape for women in technology. The national programme is intended to connect women with learning, mentoring, networking and career support through free access.

"Women in technology do not need more warm words about the scale of the problem; they need access to skills, networks and opportunities that help them move forward.

Women in Tech Week brings that support together and makes it available free of charge across the country. Whether someone is considering their first technology role, returning after a career break or preparing to move into leadership, there will be practical opportunities for them to learn, connect and take their next step," said Dr Vanessa Vallely OBE, founder and chief executive officer of WeAreTechWomen.

Women in Tech Week describes itself as the UK's only national week dedicated to women in technology. Since it began, the programme has delivered more than 200 events across the country and brought together thousands of attendees and hundreds of organisations.

This year's participants span financial services, consulting, higher education and the public sector, reflecting the broadening range of employers seeking to address gender representation in technical and digital roles. The inclusion of large banks, consultancies and public institutions also points to a growing focus on retention as well as recruitment.

Vallely also linked the issue to the UK's wider economic position. "If we want the UK to remain globally competitive, we need more women entering, staying and progressing within the technology sector," she said.