January 24, 2023

Step Up expands to Germany, India & Singapore and five-year partnership with Virgin Media O2

Girls Talk London expands Technology talent accelerator Step Up for female students to Germany, India & Singapore and announces five-year partnership with Virgin Media O2

“A technology talent accelerator for women around the world!”

Girls Talk London announces technology talent accelerator Step UP; sponsored by BT, Virgin Media O2 and Vodafone is to expand with Vodafone to support female students in Germany, India, and Singapore.

Girls Talk London have also agreed to a five-year partnership with Virgin Media O2 to support the programme until 2026.

The second year of Step Up officially launches on the 26th of January 2023 during a reception hosted by BT at their One Braham Street Office in London broadcasted to participants in Ghana, Germany, Singapore and India.

Created by award-winning gender equality organisation, Girls Talk London, this virtual six-month hybrid programme will provide access to professionals and skills development training to 60 female university students from January-June 2023 to support them with their career aspirations to work in Technology.

Students will receive 1-2-1 mentoring, monthly skills development masterclasses led by influential business professionals and exclusive curated career days hosted at the offices of sponsoring businesses BT, Virgin Media O2 and Vodafone for students to meet Senior leaders and recruitment teams.

The aim of Step UP is to support students and global tech companies in building meaningful connections and for students to access graduate opportunities; past participants have secured graduate roles at sponsoring businesses upon completion of the programme.

Globally women make up just 26.7% of technologists and this programme aims to increase the representation of women in the tech ecosystem by developing the female talent pipeline at graduate level for businesses and equipping ambitious female students at university with the tools to be successful in securing a role after university.

Vanessa Sanyauke, CEO and Founder of Girls Talk London says:
“Girls Talk London are excited to partner again with BT, Virgin Media O2 and Vodafone to continue to support female students in the UK and Ghana with their career aspirations to work in Technology. We are really thrilled to expand our reach with Vodafone to support students in Germany, Singapore and India.We are also delighted to have agreed a five-year partnership with Virgin Media O2 until 2026 which will allow us to work strategically and closely with the business as a long-term partner of Girls Talk London.

Step UP is a fantastic and impactful programme that has provided female talent with the tools to succeed in the workplace and empowering them to secure roles in tech companies upon graduation. Globally, we still have a long way to go in addressing the challenge of inspiring more women to access careers in technology. We are looking forward to expanding Step UP in Asia and to work more closely with our partners to address this issue and make a difference”

Vodafone Business says:
“At Business _VOIS and Vodafone we are committed to our purpose of ‘Inclusion for All’, which means we strive to create a diverse and inclusive workforce that not only reflects the customers and communities we serve, but that create inherently inclusive products and services for our diverse customers.

Part of this commitment means reaching out to young people to develop our future diverse workforce, particularly to encourage girls to explore the amazing opportunities offered by a career in STEM.
I’m proud that Vodafone will be providing the support of 20 leaders to mentor young girls in UK, Ghana, Germany, Singapore and India through the Girls Talk London ‘Step Up’ programme, to inspire and motivate young women to pursue a career in technology.” Ellie Sugrue, Director, Business_VOIS

BT says:
“BT Group is committed to improving female representation, not just within the Group but across the tech industry as a whole. We need more role models to support and encourage women in technology. Girls Talk London is a powerful voice for change which has already helped inspire thousands.

Their ‘Step Up’ programme for women who want to move into tech is a crucial initiative, and we’re excited to partner with them again to help kick start many more technology careers.
By being mindful, empathetic and supportive we can all begin to make the tech industry as inclusive as possible.” Kerensa Jennings, Director, Data Platforms at BT Group

Virgin Media O2 says

“We’re proud to support the Step-Up programme which has mentored hundreds of young women over the past 8 years who have gone on to secure tech roles. We’re building on this with a new five-year partnership with Girl Talk London and will offer mentoring opportunities for young women to advise them on kick-starting their career in tech.” Jo Bertram, Virgin Media O2’s Managing Director, Business and Wholesale