/Language as a Barrier: an Institute of Coding Forum

How does the language we use in our marketing, our job specifications, our curriculum and our teaching materials impact on diversity and inclusion?

Can the words and phrases we use make job candidates, students, lecturers feel that the tech sector isn’t for people like them? Can language reinforce outdated stereotypes and inhibit the diversity of the talent pool?

By sharing experience and practice from industry and education, this Forum will identify the touch points in the talent pipeline where people experience written language, and understand how the use of inappropriate language can inhibit engagement and sense of belonging.

The Forum will gather and share practice from participants, and will contribute to the production of an Institute of Coding good practice guide.

This Forum is for people who produce any written content that interfaces with prospective or existing digital students or employees, and who want to improve diversity and inclusion. We especially want to involve people who have experience of changing language in their communication and have lessons to share.

Confirmed Forum contributors so far include:

• Jo Morfee, Innovate Her.

• Bob Cliff, The Tech Partnership.

• Steven Williams, ShopDirect.