DIVERSIT

Out and successful - Gemma Pritchard reports on diversity and graduate opportunities within the ever-expanding IT sector.

Information technology has a huge influence on our lives and IT is a massive employment growth sector. Official statistics have shown that the labour market in information technology is rising and recent studies have predicted strong growth in the numbers of vacancies in computing/IT of over 20% for 2007. The major players of the industry, including Microsoft, Google, Hewlett Packard and IBM offer excellent graduate packages with competitive salaries and fast progression. Possible career paths are hugely diverse. There is great demand in particular for programmers, system designers, analysts, engineers and managers.

Nicholas Creswell is University Programmes Manager for Google Europe, and chair of the Gaygler LGBT group in the UK and Europe. He says that IT companies such as Google are more accepting and open minded than ever, and such organisations offer a wealth of exciting graduate opportunities both in the UK and abroad.

He says: “Culture is very important to us, and we work hard to ensure our culture is extremely tolerant and that employees are accepting of each other. Google employees are known as Googlers, and then LGBT members have been known as Gayglers since very early in the history of the company. The Gaygler network now extends around the world, and organises social events, regular meetings for members and also represents LGBT matters to HR and other functions.

“IT companies tend to be very meritocratic, and so it’s easy to progress based purely on merit: people’s perceptions of one tend to be based on actual experience of working with one, rather than on any preconceptions. All in all, that means the sector is a relatively easy one in which to be out and successful.

“Most graduates with technical backgrounds, particularly in Computer Science, join us as Software Engineers. In Europe, we have full-time opportunities for them in London, Zurich, Trondheim and Dublin, and we have internships available in those locations and at our HQ in Silicon Valley.

“Ideally we look for people with a degree in Computer Science, or else in a closely related area such as Mathematics or Physics. We also look for people who love to programme, and who’ve been involved in any kind of extracurricular activity.”

Earlier this year IBM was named as the UK’s most ‘gay-friendly’ employer by Stonewall’s annual Workplace Equality Index, which identifies the UK’s top 100 employers for gay people.

“A pink plateau still exists in too much of the British workplace,” says Ben Summerskill, Stonewall Chief Executive. “The business case for addressing effective recruitment and retention of lesbian and gay staff is increasingly persuasive. This work isn’t just about fair treatment, it’s about establishing competitive advantage in the labour market. Happily this year there’s excellence in every sector from which other employers across Britain can learn.”

Larry Hirst, Country General Manager at IBM UK, says: “To be recognised by Stonewall as the leading UK employer for workplace equality is a source of tremendous pride. I’m convinced that the principles of diversity, inclusion and equality must sit at the heart of any truly modern, successful and confident organisation. This award will give IBM the impetus to further imbed these principles into the way we work, empowering all of our employees to succeed and thrive.”

Stonewall rank employers according to criteria ranging from implementation of an effective equality policy to demonstrating how they engage with their lesbian and gay staff and customers and service users. The Index assesses actual practice, such as recruitment and mentoring activity, as well as just policy.

“Employers actively engaged in the talent market take Stonewall’s Workplace Equality very seriously,” says Stephen Frost, Stonewall’s Director of Workplace Programmes. “They know Britain’s 1.7 million gay staff and their colleagues now use this information in their career planning. Organisations that have made Stonewall’s list deserve congratulations for their performance over the past year.”

Microsoft offers MACH (Microsoft Academies for University Hires) - a graduate programme that includes residential courses at international locations and self-directed learning. The emphasis during student placements in Reading or London is on supplementing theory learnt at university with real, practical experience. The 48-week scheme starts in July with a week-long induction.

The Number one IT vendor in Europe, Hewlett Packard, offers an intern development programme, which allows interns to work alongside and in support of a group of world-class professionals in their chosen field of study. They also have a graduate programme which offers the opportunity to rotate within the businesses, with world class training, including a professional qualification which provides 60 points towards an MBA.