‘Ensuring a diverse future in tech startups’ at Connected Britain 2023
Lopa Patel MBE moderated a panel debate at the UK’s largest connectivity and digital economy event, Connected Britain 2023, exploring the opportunity and challenges to ‘ensuring a diverse future in tech and telecom startups’. The debate which took place on 21 September 2023 on the StartUp Stage featured panellists: Andy Ayim, Founder, Angel Investing School; Karen Emelu, CEO & Founder, Black Girls in Tech; Lucy Hall, Founder, Digital Women; Parul Vatsa, Co-Founder at Athena Fund X and Samantha Niblett, Founder, Labour: Women in Tech.
The panel discussed the current situation regarding diversity in tech and telecom startups with women heavily under-represented in the sector at 26% and ethnic minority individuals being unable to break through the glass ceiling into senior management in the tech, dropping from 25% representation at entry level to just 13% at senior management levels.
“I was pleased that Connected Britain 2023 chose to focus on this important topic,” said Lopa after the debate, “it is surprising that a huge shortage in tech skills hasn’t resulted in companies tackling these barriers to entry and progression more urgently. It is refreshing that a flagship event like Connected Britain is highlighting the challenges for the hundreds of startups and corporates at the event.”
Connected Britain 2023 is the UK’s largest connectivity and digital economy event. The event will feature 5,000 attendees, 200 exhibitors, over 100 startups, and 300 incredible speakers from the UK’s connectivity ecosystem including communication service providers, public sector, investors, and UK enterprises. The confex had 12 themes this year: Connected Britain keynotes, Digital Britain, Connected Communities, Infrastructure Connected, Gigabit Britain, Rollout Project, Society Connected, Smart Britain, Industries Connected, Enterprise Connected, Local Authority Showcase and the Startup Britain Stage.
‘Ensuring a diverse future in tech and telecom startups’ panel debate
11.40 – 12.20hrs on 21 September 2023
Startup Britain stage
Moderator: Lopa Patel MBE, Founder, Asians in Tech
Speakers:
Andy Ayim, Founder, Angel Investing School
Karen Emelu, CEO & Founder, Black Girls in Tech
Lucy Hall, Founder, Digital Women
Parul Vatsa, Co-Founder at Athena Fund X
Samantha Niblett, Founder, Labour: Women in Tech
Content:
- Understanding the current situation regarding diversity in tech and telecom startups
- Telecom value chain – diversity in talent, supplier base, R&D, product/service offerings, customer needs etc
- How can we ensure diversity in telecom and tech startups?
- Skilling up for diversity
About Connected Britain
Connected Britain is the UK’s most important digital economy event, bringing together stakeholders from across the connectivity ecosystem. Excellent digital connectivity is crucial for unlocking positive socioeconomic benefits for the UK’s people, businesses, and communities. Connected Britain explores how the UK can capitalise on the opportunities that digital infrastructure and emerging technologies bring and showcases the leaders who are making innovation happen.
Connected Britain is organised by Total Telecom. As a publisher, Total Telecom have tracked the latest progress of full fibre and 5G rollouts in Britain. Connected Britain takes place at ExCeL, London in September each year. This content-heavy confex brings in diverse verticals to understand -the UK’s connectivity landscape and the challenges needed to be tackled for the UK to be a digital leader.
Startup Britain Stage
The Startup Britain stage will offer a celebration of innovation. Startups will have a chance to pitch their idea to potential investors, partners, and customers. Investors, accelerators, scale-ups and SMEs will share their insights into the keys for business growth and success.
For further information visit https://www.terrapinn.com/conference/connected-britain/
