e-skills UK Chief Executive, Karen Price, says women make up a mere seventeen percent of the total IT-professional workforce and only eleven percent of those women hold postgraduate qualifications.

"For the sector to be missing out on half the talent pool is a major concern. As an industry, we need to do much more to promote the wide range of roles and skills we need. In particular, the types of roles that require a blend of business, interpersonal, and technical skills are often appealing to women, and this is a skill set in great demand in the UK.

"We're delighted that the e-skills Professional Programme is already having an impact on achieving this by fast tracking a new generation of future leaders into bigger and more valuable IT roles."

Maggie Berry, Managing Director of womenintechnology.co.uk and member of the e-skills UK's Girls in IT Steering Group, says, "Women have a great deal to offer to IT employers, and the IT profession has a lot of opportunities for women in return. Postgraduate qualifications like the e-skills Professional Programme level the playing field by providing women with the skills to succeed in a competitive industry."

IBM Foundation Manager Jenny Taylor says, "Our business is remaining at the forefront of industry ideas, ensuring we are making use of the best learning and development available to our professionals, and keeping us linked with academic and government partners. IBM has always looked to develop a broad range of skills in its staff, and the e-skills Professional Programme is an ideal means to continue this process."

IBM Strategy and Transformation Consultant Laura Thomas adds, "A career in IT offers women incredible opportunities to work across any business or industry. Undertaking the e-skills Professional Programme is helping me develop the blend of business, interpersonal, and technical skills to make a greater contribution to the business quickly."

The e-skills Professional Programme is being delivered by The Open University and Lancaster University Management School. The programme leads to a Post Graduate Certificate and also offers higher education credits that can contribute towards a Master's qualification.