To continue to provide first-class IT services to UK businesses, it is critical for IT companies to attract and retain the brightest talent available (The IT sector is still failing women, 21 November). Yet there is evidently still an unwillingness across the industry to accept that one of the biggest handicaps is the failure to attract significant numbers of women and to tackle the outdated prejudices surrounding the roles of IT staff.

Of course, it is important not to underestimate the role that schools and colleges can play in encouraging young people to consider technology qualifications. But, with some notable exceptions, little has been done by IT firms to tackle this problem. 

Just as other sectors that used to be male dominated – like accountancy, law or medicine – have taken positive steps to attract more women, IT firms need to follow suit. What is required is a far more imaginative approach to attracting women into the industry, such as designing a flexible working structure.

Mark MacGregor, Connect Support Services