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Thoughtworks partners with General Assembly and Indigitek to augment Indigenous representation in tech

Thoughtworks (NASDAQ: TWKS), a global technology consultancy that integrates strategy, design and engineering to drive digital innovation, today announced a new scholarship offering for First Nations Peoples in partnership with General Assembly (GA), a pioneer in education and career transformation specializing in today’s most in-demand skills, and Indigitek, a not-for-profit organization that aims to increase the participation and success of Indigenous people in the tech industry. Two recipients will receive a full scholarship for GA’s extensive software development course along with an internship opportunity at Thoughtworks. 

 

"Diversifying tech talent is core to General Assembly’s mission to empower more people to pursue work they love,” said John Fong, Vice President & COO (APAC), General Assembly.

 

“Thoughtworks alongside Indigitek are part of growing industry efforts to transition discussion of access into tangible impact for Indigenous Australians and other communities underrepresented in tech. We're honoured to work with them on this initiative and are eager to continue forging new pathways to higher-paying and more fulfilling careers."

 

The initiative aims to empower more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with opportunities in technology, as they make up 3.3% of the overall Australian demographic and an even smaller percentage of the industry. The scholarship will play a pivotal role in broadening horizons in learning and professional application for the Indigenous community, helping to overcome accessibility obstacles. 

 

The Indigenous New Developer scholarship also aligns with Thoughtworks Australia’s long-standing vision to increase representation and bridge gaps for the First Nations community. In 2019, Thoughtworks launched a First Nations Delivery Centre, an Indigenous-led initiative consisting of a local fully-remote team staffed at least 50% by First Nations technologists. The company envisions building its First Nations Delivery Centre to a team of 100 within the five years to achieve over 3% representation for First Nations Peoples within the business.

 

“Our mission at Thoughtworks and the First Nations Delivery Centre is to create careers for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. But it’s not enough for us to create job roles - we need to create new pathways into technology, too.” said Kathryn Gledhill-Tucker, First Nations Delivery Centre Lead, Thoughtworks Australia. 

 

“Few of us go to university, and even fewer study computer science or software engineering degrees. That’s why supporting non-university pathways into tech careers is so important. Having a diverse team of developers in the room when we are building new technologies is fundamental to building ethical and responsible technology.”

 

For Thoughtworks graduate consultant, Michael Velsigne, undertaking GA’s Software Engineering Immersive course gave him the opportunity to change careers.

 

“I always wanted to work in tech but never really saw any role models growing up so it never seemed like a job I could do. 

 

“Joining Indigitek and talking with the community of other Indigenous people who were already working in tech inspired me to apply for the scholarship. It has really opened up so many career possibilities that are only limited by my own imagination. The skills learned at GA were a key part of unlocking these growth paths for me.”

 

The scholarship is exclusively available to young adults 18 years and older from an Aborginal or Torres Strait Islander background. Applicants require only foundational digital capabilities and aspirations for learning in the field - no tertiary background is needed. Scholarship award decisions will be made by General Assembly and Indigitek after an interview process. 

 

Applications are now open and can be submitted via General Assembly’s website.

 

Supporting resources

 

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About Thoughtworks

Thoughtworks is a global technology consultancy that integrates strategy, design and engineering to drive digital innovation. Thoughtworks is 11,000+ people strong across 49 offices in 17 countries. Over the last 25+ years, we’ve delivered extraordinary impact together with our clients by helping them solve complex business problems with technology as the differentiator.

 

 

Thoughtworks Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of terms such as “should,” "expect," "will," "continue," “intend,” “plan,” “aim,” or similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements represent our management's beliefs and assumptions only as of the date of this press release. You should read this press release with the understanding that our actual future business decisions or operational activities may be materially different from what we expect. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, which include but are not limited to: statements about the impact of Thoughtworks’ First Nations Development Center; Thoughtworks’ expectations relating to hiring First Nations Peoples; statements regarding relationships with partner organizations; and any other statements of expectation or belief. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our achievements to differ materially from outcomes or results expressed or implied in this press release. Such risk factors include, but are not limited to, those related to: the current and future impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Thoughtworks' business and industry; uncertainty regarding the demand for and market utilization of our services; the ability to maintain or acquire new talent; general business and economic conditions; adverse impact from volatile, negative or uncertain political conditions and the effects of these conditions on the company’s clients’ businesses and levels of business activity; the effects of competition on the future business of Thoughtworks; and our ability to successfully execute our growth strategy and plans, including plans related to the scholarships and internship opportunities described in this press release. Additional information concerning these and other risks and uncertainties are contained in the "Risk Factors" section of Thoughtworks’ Annual Report on Form 10-K, our quarterly reports on Forms 10-Q, and other filings and reports that Thoughtworks may file from time to time with the SEC. Except as required by law, Thoughtworks assumes no obligation, and does not intend to, to update these forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons actual outcomes could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

 

Media contact

Linda Horiuchi, global head of public relations

Phone: +1 (646) 581-2568

Email: linda.horiuchi@thoughtworks.com