Pupils get switched-on insight into digital careers at Leeds event

Around 160 female students aged 13 and 14 attended the #GirlTechLCR event at the Leeds offices of telecommunications operator aql.

The day’s programme featured a panel discussion as well as interactive workshops hosted by the likes of Jet2.com, O2, Siemens, Epiphany and Zeal.

Themes included cyber security, development, web design, big data and virtualisation.

More than 90 per cent of the teenagers taking part said they were now considering a career in digital or tech.

An audience of more than 300,000 Twitter users also interacted with the #GirlTechLCR hashtag online.

Dr Elisabeth Protopapa, from Carr Manor Community School, said: “The students loved it. They came back inspired and a lot of them said they were not aware of all the possible career options before. What a great outcome.”

The event was hosted by aql in conjunction with the Ahead Partnership social enterprise.

At present only 25 per cent of the two million people who work in the UK’s digital sector are female.

The Yorkshire Evening Post recently launched its Digital City platform in partnership with Sky Betting & Gaming.

The platform is designed to highlight the giant strides being made by a sector that boasts around 3,000 organisations in Leeds.