Barriers to tech jobs top agenda at student employer networking event

May 2026

By Claire Huggins and Sean Madden

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The ‘Building an Inclusive Technology Workforce’ event brought together students and employers to explore the barriers and obstacles to entering the digital workforce experienced by people from underrepresented backgrounds.

In the luxurious surrounds of The Restaurant, Birmingham College of Food's eatery at the Summer Row campus, representatives from Aston University, Currys Business, J6 Solutions, the West Midlands Cyber Crime Unit and Tech WM were welcomed to the panel.

With them, students, staff and stakeholders embraced the opportunity for informal, honest conversations about how to create new and strengthen existing pathways into the cyber, digital and technology sectors.

Opening the event, Kanwal Rauf, Head of the Department of Digital and even co-organiser, told the assembled audience:

"This is a fantastic opportunity to bring students and employers together, giving you valuable insight into industry expectations while enabling employers to engage with a diverse, innovative talent pool."

"We're hoping this event will help you to gain confidence, clarity, and real industry insight, while employers are able to demonstrate the value of meaningful collaboration."

Livestreamed for students unable to attend in person, the event sought to offer a safe space to tackle the very real difficulties people face when trying to pursue a career in tech; demystifying the workplace, understanding where their strengths and skills fit in, and revealing the company culture behind a job title, interview process and corporate brand.

Fifteen students enjoyed lunch with the panel and other guests, before leading the discussion with frank and robust questions on disability and neurodiversity provision.

Topics of discussion included the allowance of adjustments for technical assessments and interviews, such as extra time, different formats, camera-off options, disability and neurodivergence in the recruitment process, support offered for those to remain in their role and progress, efforts to improve inclusion in hiring and workplace culture.

In a change from many networking events, this was designed to ensure a diverse range of people felt welcomed and comfortable, without the bustle of a recruitment fair or the formality of a presentation-led conference. Listening, learning and the chance to make meaningful connections were top of the agenda.

Attendees were expected and encouraged to be honest and transparent as they shared and recounted their experiences, promoting the value of transferable skills such as active listening, empathy, teamwork and confidence in conversation.

Mohammad Imran Samir, a final year student on our Computer Science BSc (Hons) course felt that this ethos shone through. Reflecting on the experience, he said:

"I came to this event hoping to gain real-world insight into inclusive pathways into tech but I left with so much more.

"Having the opportunity to sit alongside industry leaders like the CEO of TechWM and the Chief People Officer of Intercity Technology, and to pitch my own ideas to a room full of employers, was something I never expected as a student.

"The encouragement I received gave me the confidence to take my ideas further. Events like this don’t just open doors, they make you realise the doors were always there.”

As the event drew to a close, Zoey Rhodes, Engineering, Digital and Sustainable Construction Higher Education Employability Tutor and event co-organiser was delighted with the manner in which the day unfolded:

"What we achieved today wasn’t just a nod toward inclusion, it was inclusion in action. More than 200 students were able to take part in a live event, see our panel, and ask the critical questions that matter to them. That shouldn’t be extraordinary. It should be normal," she said.

"Inclusion isn’t a special feature; it’s a standard we should all expect. Today felt like a meaningful step toward making access for diverse groups the norm, not the exception.

"Here’s to more events like this, more collaboration, and more opportunities to ensure every student feels seen, heard, and included."

Find out more about our courses in tech.

Read about our disability and neurodiversity support.