Vorboss sets new gender parity standards
November 23, 2023
Vorboss, the dedicated fibre network for London businesses, is joining Ofcom’s pledge; committing to improve representation for women in the telecoms sector.
Women have been historically under-represented in the tech industry, and particularly in telecoms. Vorboss is proudly transforming the sector with the highest rate of women in engineering and field roles: over a third of the installation technicians and planning engineers in the company are women.Now, it’s taking a step further. As part of signing up to Ofcom’s ‘Women in tech’ pledge, Vorboss is setting the ambition to be the first UK network operator to have gender parity in its technician and engineering workforce by 2027.
Vorboss is committed to creating a new standard for women working in a male-dominated sector. Its in-house academy trains those with little to no previous experience in the telecoms industry, effectively breaking down entry barriers and shifting traditional stereotypes. It pairs this with its own ‘expert track’ programme, which accelerates high performers into its wider leadership team.
From period days, personal days off and flexible working, to welfare vans for field teams and adapting industry tools and uniforms to suit and support various body shapes and sizes, Vorboss has been leading the way in providing everyone with the best opportunities to start their career in telecoms.
But there’s more to be done. The Ofcom pledge commits telecoms providers to share best practice and drive the industry forwards.
Rikshita Khela, Vorboss Chief People Officer, says: ‘We are delighted to sign up to the Ofcom pledge. An inclusive work environment is in our DNA; we proudly set an example with a diverse team of field engineers, our unique people benefits, and the highest percentage of women in the top pay quartile in the telecoms sector.[1] Now we want to go further and be the first network operator to achieve gender parity in their engineering and technician teams.
We are passionate about going beyond industry commitments by implementing policies and measurable actions. By signing up to the Ofcom pledge and setting this new ambition, we hope to continue raising the bar together with other players in the industry.’
Nihal Newman, Ofcom Director of Network Security, says: ‘We’re pleased to welcome Vorboss as the latest telecoms company to sign-up to our Women in Tech pledge. This highlights the growing commitment within the sector to help more women build rewarding technology careers in the telecoms industry’.