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Computacenter & TC4RE, together tackling diversity.
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Computacenter is proud to be one of the founding members of Technology Community for Racial Equality (TC4RE), pronounced ‘T CARE’.
The IT industry delivers one of the most vibrant and exciting employment experiences available, with the near limitless span of technology products and solutions offering an ongoing source of interesting day to day learning and work-related activities. With the importance of solving complex problems and the need to embrace continual innovation at the heart of many IT roles, the technology industry has the potential to attract an intellectually and culturally diverse range of people, seeking an exciting and long-lasting career.
However, in 2020 and 2021, a number of significant negative social and societal events were reported globally that highlighted the use of race to intentionally disadvantage those from Black and other ethnic minority backgrounds and signposted the need to readdress the racial balance across our society. The events of 2021 delivered a wakeup call across the world and equally energised a small group of passionate individuals to shine a light on the UK IT sector, to understand if it really was a fair and inclusive industry for prospective and existing employees regardless of colour or ethnic background. This led to the formation of TC4RE which was founded by a group of organisations to improve the racial balance in the IT industry, maximise employee potential, and to help IT become a beacon of opportunity for all.
The TC4RE community has come together to deliver three primary objectives to the IT industry: LEARN, ENGAGE, TRANSFORM.
The activities of the LEARN team bring together the educators in the group to promote knowledge sharing, best practices, and to offer strategies. The aim is to help organisations educate their people on ways to maximise the value from an intentionally diverse workforce.
The ENGAGE team are focused on connecting people and organisations together via panels, podcasts, and other collaboration methods that enhance interaction and foster beneficial relationships.
Lastly, the TRANSFORM team ensures TC4RE uses the power and reach of its founding members within the broader IT community to drive significant and enduring change, so to ensure ethnically diverse - current and future - employees thrive as IT professionals.
of people in tech come from ethnic minority backgrounds
of employees in the UK private sector have experienced or witnessed racism from colleagues, customers, or clients
of Black employees in the UK technology sector believe their ethnicity will be a barrier to their career development
We’re dedicated to building a more diverse and inclusive technology industry for the benefit of individuals and the organisations they work for.
TC4RE
The outputs from the TC4RE community are available to the broader IT community via social media, in person events, but with a focal point being the TC4RE website. Companies with information technology employees, seeking to promote fairness and harness talent from ethnic minority backgrounds, can use the resources available from the TC4RE team to implement tangible, positive change. The resources provided help people from ethnic minorities reach their full potential, promoting fairness and equal opportunity for both organisations and individuals.
The TC4RE founder organisations include Microsoft, ResourceIT, Computacenter, Softcat, Protiviti, Lumen, Boxxe, Insight, SoftwareONE, Claranet, Techdata, with other likeminded companies waiting in the wings, and more welcome to join and be part of the change. Microsoft UK is not only one of the initiating founders but is also a highly vocal proponent for TC4RE. The initial public launch of the TC4RE community took place at the Microsoft global Inspire partner conference in 2021.
Computacenter is a leading organisation in the information technology industry founded on principles of meritocracy and fairness for all group employees, ensuring we deliver the best possible service to our customers, and maximise the potential of our people. Computacenter is honoured and proud to be one of the founding members of TC4RE and will continue to invest our time and effort to share our own knowledge and learn from other organisations. Together, we can ensure that the IT industry we shape is inclusive and rewarding for employees from ethnic minority or culturally diverse backgrounds.
Colin Williams – Business Line CTO, Computacenter UK
The TC4RE community has achieved a lot in its first year; with engagement of over 40,000 people, the development of a successful podcast series, substantial collaboration across its founding member employee community, and is extremely proud of the launch of its first ever scholarship scheme to offer grants towards tomorrow's future IT professionals. Great progress has been made but there are still lots that can be done to help the IT industry to become the shining light for diversity and inclusion - showcasing how to maximise the potential of a diverse workforce to the mutual benefit of all.
Is your organisation keen to attract future employees from the broadest available talent pool and to maximise the personal and professional potential of existing ethnically diverse employees? If so, then join us here.
For more information on TC4RE and how your organisation can benefit from building a more equal and diverse workforce, please contact Colin Williams, Business Line CTO, Computacenter UK.
Technology Community for Racial Equality (TC4RE)
Building a better technology industry through equality, diversity and inclusion
We can all do better