A new project aiming to improve racial diversity across the digital sector launches this week from Leeds City Council.
The project is hoped to build a better understanding of the landscape for people of colour, who are currently working or looking to work in the digital and tech sectors in the city.
The project is being conducted in partnership by Leeds-based not-for-profit WILD Digital, Manchester-based ‘Tech For Good’ organisation Diverse and Equal and Leeds City Council.
The project’s partners include BJSS, Bruntwood, Crisp, Nexus, SciTech, Sky Betting and Gaming and TPP.
The project is beginning with a call for everyone, regardless of their ethnicity, working or looking to work in the Leeds digital and tech sector to take part in a survey.
Sarah Tulip, Co-founder of WILD Digital and Head of Digital Transformation at BJSS, said: “This project led by WILD Digital aims to try and make this conversation clear and accessible for everyone. It is an opportunity for the Leeds digital sector to show our passion and commitment to equality and to lead in our listening and set objectives to create a fairer and more inclusive space for all.”
Annette Joseph, Founder of Diverse and Equal, added:“Innovation from tech touches every part of our lives — from how we communicate to how we shop, and everything in between. This research demonstrates the city’s commitment to equality. The insights will feed into Leeds becoming a diverse, innovative and productive centre of tech excellence for the future.”
Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Deputy Leader and Leeds City Council executive board member for Economy, Culture and Education, said: “This project is crucial to helping uncover the lived realities of people of colour in the digital and tech sector across Leeds and will allow the sector to identify the necessary actions to create a diverse workforce truly reflective of our city.”
