Social value in action: Inspiring the next generation of tech talent with HMRC

For the UK technology sector to thrive, we have to look beyond traditional talent pools and actively invest in the people who are going to shape the industry’s future. That means getting out into the world, supporting communities and helping young people see that they belong here.

This year, Equal Experts’ Women in Tech working group partnered with our colleagues at HMRC to co-sponsor Next Tech Fest 2026 at CodeNode London. Our goal was simple: team up with clients outside day-to-day delivery work, and show young women the incredible breadth of opportunities available in the tech sector, while strengthening our relationship with HMRC by delivering genuine impact together.

Our involvement in this sort of project is important in light of the recently published Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 026, in which the Cabinet Office explains that suppliers should work for communities to provide good British jobs, skills and opportunities in every postcode. Social value isn’t just a tick-box exercise, or a promise tucked away in a bid document: it’s about how we show up with real, practical work that makes a difference to people and communities, with measurable outcomes. Partnering with Next Tech Girls means we can do work that aligns with our own values and the priorities of the public sector clients we work with.

Taking early action to bridge the diversity gap

Sponsoring Next Tech Fest 2026 helped us provide young women with the chance to meet relatable role models from a wide range of backgrounds, to get hands-on experience and gain a real sense of what a career in tech looks like. The timing matters: research shows that girls’ interest in tech often fades in their mid to late teens, so reaching them at this age makes a real difference.

There’s no doubt that the technology sector has a problem on its hands recruiting young talent. Only 27% of female A-Level students are considering a career in tech, compared to 61% of their male colleagues. A tiny 3% of female secondary students say technology is their first choice career.

The fourth annual Next Tech Fest was the biggest yet, with 322 attendees, including 226 members of the Next Tech Girls community. More importantly, post-event data shows the event reached the exact groups of people where representation matters most:

• 97% of attendees came from state-funded education, with 80% attending non-selective schools and colleges
• Almost 9 out of 10 (89%) delegates came from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds (42% black, 39% asian, 8% mixed or multiple ethnicities)
• Eight in ten people were attending Next Tech Fest for the first time, and 57% were attending their first ever Next Tech Girls event
• Most attendees (85%) were aged 16-21, and 41% currently attend school or college. Around one in five (19%) recently left school, 25% were at university and 10% were recent graduates.

By showing up alongside HMRC we brought important, relatable role models directly to these young women at an important stage of their career journey.

A packed day of collaboration

We didn’t want this Joint-Value Initiative (JVI) to be a meaningless logo on a flyer. It was an opportunity for HMRC and EE to work side by side throughout the whole day.

The agenda was absolutely packed, with team members sharing their career journeys, and inspiring attendees with advice on the amazing breadth and scale of opportunities available across public sector technology.

We kicked off with a main-stage welcome, led by Christie Ronaldson, Relationship Manager at Equal Experts and Ravi Rai, Head of Transformation at HMRC’s Data Platform Services (DPS) team. This was followed by a series of in-depth workshops, one-to-one mentoring and a series of AI demonstrations, which sparked lots of fascinating conversations about the future of our industry.

The proof is in the numbers

If you want to understand the importance of events like these, consider this: 100% of attendees at Next Tech Fest said they now feel there is a place for them in the tech industry. The attendee feedback captured that transformation perfectly. As Fahima (17) put it: “There are so so so many ways into tech, and so many roles and there’s a place in tech for everyone.” Another university student shared: “The path into tech is not as linear and rigid as it seems. You can be successful coming from a variety of backgrounds, and shouldn’t feel discouraged especially as a woman”.

Some other highlights from attendee feedback include:

• 100% gained more understanding of the different careers available across tech
• 97% felt more confident about pursuing a career in tech
• 93% said they’re more likely to consider working for a sponsor company in future
• 93% discovered new tech roles or career paths they had not previously considered

Strengthening strategic partnerships

JVIs like this don’t just support the next generation of tech talent – they’re a great way to build relationship equity. Thanks to the involvement of stakeholders across HMRC EIS, DPS, Security, and Borders & Trade, our teams could connect outside the everyday pressures of contract delivery.

As social value continues to gain importance in central government procurement, co-creating community initiatives like Next Tech Fest offer a blueprint for how suppliers and clients can work together to achieve a lasting impact.

About the author

Christie has over 8 years of experience working in agency and consultancy environments, where she’s built a reputation for putting people first. By leading with empathy, she helps customers solve complex problems through collaboration and trust. As Relationship Manager at Equal Experts, Christie focuses on understanding what truly matters to clients and ensuring they see tangible value from every engagement.

Christie is passionate about creating outcomes that make customers genuinely happy, and she’s an active women in tech champion and enthusiast.

About the co-author