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ADMIRAL DRIVES DIVERSITY IN TECH WITH AN IMPACTFUL CSR INITIATIVE
ADMIRAL CREATED NEW DIGITAL PATHWAYS FOR WOMEN IN WALES AND WEST ENGLAND WITH LASTING IMPACT
One of the UK’s leading insurers, Admiral, joined forces with Code First Girls to tackle the underrepresentation of women in tech in Wales and the West of England. A diverse technical workforce is particularly challenging to achieve outside of the UK’s capital, where opportunities are more concentrated. Admiral understood that it was crucial to build alternative pathways for talent to enter the tech workforce, and developed a CSR initiative with Code First Girls to offer women in their local areas the opportunity to learn more about tech careers and upskill in tech topics for free.
Through this initiative, Admiral enabled over 6,500 women to learn how to code, and upskill in areas such as Python, JavaScript, Data and Web Development. Of these women, over 120 went on to study further education with Code First Girls with our advanced programmes in Software Engineering, Full-Stack Development, Data Science and Product Management, all thanks to Admiral’s sponsorship. We are delighted to be following the progress of these women, with close to 60 of those that graduated in 2024 already having secured new roles or promotions – a number that is set to increase in 2025 as graduations continue.
6,529
women received free tech education
120
women completed advanced programmes
~ 50%
students secured new roles or promotions so far
THE PROBLEM
Tackling barriers to tech careers
Nationally, women represent approximately 26% of the STEM workforce in the UK, a figure which drops to just 23% when we look at Wales alone. Women encounter significant barriers to entering tech, ranging from cultural stereotypes to unconscious bias in hiring practices. Admiral saw an opportunity to make a difference by offering women in Wales and West England a way to upskill and pivot into tech careers. Working with Code First Girls, Admiral introduced a range of classes and programmes as part of their diversity CSR initiative to address these challenges, coupled with mentorship to offer maximum support.
THE SOLUTION
1. Community centered impact
Admiral focused its efforts locally, reaching women in and around Wales to build a strong regional pipeline of tech talent. By sponsoring free classes and advanced courses, Admiral created opportunities for women to explore tech topics they were curious about, helping them gain the foundational skills needed to transition into tech.
The community of learners had complete autonomy in selecting their courses, enabling them to focus on subjects they were truly passionate about. This approach fostered higher levels of engagement, improved learning outcomes, and meant stronger retention as participants were empowered to align their studies with their personal interests and career aspirations.
2. From exploration to expertise
Admiral’s courses introduced women to essential tech skills, enabling them to experiment with new fields or upskill to help them in their existing roles. For those who wanted to take their learning further, the advanced programmes provided specialised, in-depth training in areas like data and software development, equipping participants to secure their first roles in tech.
By offering the full scope of training, Admiral ensured that by the time participants completed the advanced programmes, they possessed the practical skills and technical knowledge needed to excel in interviews and succeed in their roles, bridging the gap between theoretical learning and workplace readiness.
3. The role of mentorship
Recognising that many of the advanced education participants were new to tech, Admiral introduced a mentorship programme to support their learning. Admiral’s tech employees provided invaluable guidance, offering insights into day-to-day roles, coaching for interviews, and practical technical advice. This mentorship was instrumental in boosting participants’ confidence and readiness for tech careers. It also provided a fantastic way to involve Admiral’s employees in the programme, offering them a chance to develop leadership skills, contribute to diversity initiatives, and make a meaningful impact by helping shape the next generation of tech talent.
Following their education and mentorship with Admiral, the CFG graduates went on to use the technical and professional skills in a variety of different ways. Some took the next steps in their career by securing their first role or internship within tech, others discovered a new passion that led to further education ahead of a career switch and some feel empowered to start up a new career after having a baby. By sponsoring women through this CSR initiative, Admiral unlocked important data about barriers for women entering the tech workforce, and were able to use this to better support these transitions in the future.
THE RESULTS
Admiral’s CSR initiative has already shown remarkable success:
- Over 6k intro course views to build interest and basic skills, as well as drive awareness and reach for women thinking about a career in tech.
- 1,500+ women taught to code in our foundational classes to build up the tech skills pipeline in Wales and West England.
- 120 women went on to our advanced programmes in Software and Data Engineering, Data Science, Full-Stack and Product Management.
- ~50% of participants have landed new roles or promotions in positions such as Technology Analyst, Information Systems Junior Developer, and Financial Systems Technical Officer.
- An additional 6% are in the final stages of interviews for tech roles.
- 87% of participants plan to apply for new roles within the next year with 91% stating they believe they will secure a new role in tech within the next 12 months.
- Over 40 individuals volunteered as mentors across the 120 funded candidates.
Beyond technical skills, Admiral’s mentorship programme helped participants develop confidence and industry awareness, setting them up for lasting success.
Through this partnership, Admiral has not only empowered women in its community to start new careers in tech, but also made strides toward addressing the gender gap in tech. This programme highlights how targeted action can create meaningful change and foster diversity in the industry.
GET IN TOUCH WITH CODE FIRST GIRLS
Companies around the world trust Code First Girls to:
- Support their CSR initiatives by providing women with new career pathways into tech
- Build tech talent pipelines within local communities
- Enable the development of diverse tech teams by providing comprehensive education across in-demand technical skills
Why not find out for yourself? Speak to our experts here. 👇