International Women in Tech Day is a time to celebrate progress, recognise achievement, and challenge the barriers that still exist. In the technology sector, those conversations are more important than ever.
For decades, IT support has been unfairly stereotyped as a male-dominated space. Server rooms, networking racks, and technical troubleshooting have too often been portrayed as environments where women are the exception rather than the rule. But that narrative is changing. Across the industry, more women are stepping into technical roles, building rewarding careers, and reshaping what IT support looks like for the next generation.
At Minerva, we are proud to be part of that change. This year, in honour of Women in Tech Day, we are celebrating three of our inspirational female colleagues – Sumera, Ellie and Caroline – who are building their careers in Applications Support with us.
Ellie joined us at the age of 20 as an Application Support Trainee and learned her trade at Minerva through a combination of shadowing other Application Support Consultants, studying for her AAT qualifications and getting to grips with the ins and outs of Exchequer software through her own independent learning. After two years, she had progressed from Application Support Trainee to Application Support Consultant, learning our Opera software alongside Exchequer, and in 2024 she was promoted to the role of Applications Support Manager.
Sumera has a similarly inspiring work history. She joined Minerva in 2023 as an Application Support Trainee for our Exchequer and iplicit financial software, and, thanks to her impressive technical insight and ability, was promoted to the role of Applications Support Consultant in less than two years. She now supports numerous customers with their financial software queries, providing outstanding technical solutions and excellent customer service. Prior to joining Minerva, Sumera gained a Masters’ Degree in Statistics as well as an AAT qualification.
Caroline is our newest female apprentice and joined us in 2025 as an Application Consultant, working specifically on iplicit software support. Minerva is supporting Caroline through her ongoing accounting AAT qualifications so she can continue to study while she carries out her Application Support role and builds her technical career with us.
Apprenticeships: Opening the Door
One of the most impactful ways to increase diversity in IT support is through apprenticeships. Apprenticeships remove barriers that might otherwise prevent someone from entering the industry. They provide hands-on experience, structured learning, mentorship, and a clear career pathway.
At Minerva, we’re incredibly proud that Ellie and Caroline came to us through apprenticeships and that they are going from strength to strength in their IT Support careers,
Choosing an apprenticeship in an MSP environment is no small decision. It means stepping into a fast-paced world where no two days are the same. It means learning on the job; troubleshooting live issues, communicating with clients, and gaining real exposure to enterprise-level technology. It means building confidence alongside competence.
When our apprentices join us, they are not just learning technical skills; they are gaining resilience, adaptability, and professional confidence. They are proving, every day, that talent is not defined by gender. They are contributing to the team, solving problems, and growing into future leaders in technology.
And perhaps most importantly, they are visible examples to other young women considering a career in IT support.
The Reality of Women in IT Support
Despite significant progress, women remain underrepresented in technical roles across the tech sector. Within MSP environments, the challenge can be even more pronounced. IT support roles demand technical expertise, analytical thinking, resilience under pressure, and strong communication skills. Yet the pipeline of women entering these roles has historically been smaller than it should be.
Why?
Part of the issue lies in outdated perceptions. Many young women are not encouraged to explore STEM subjects at school. IT is sometimes presented as coding in isolation or hardware-heavy engineering, rather than the dynamic, people-focused, problem-solving career it truly is. IT support, in particular, requires empathy, collaboration, and communication, skills that are not only valuable but essential.
MSPs sit at the intersection of technology and people. IT support engineers don’t just fix systems; they enable businesses to function. They solve urgent problems, protect organisations from cyber threats, implement new technologies, and provide guidance that shapes digital strategy. It’s a role that blends technical acumen with customer service and critical thinking. It is creative, strategic, and deeply human.
Women belong in these roles; not as a diversity metric, but as innovators, leaders, and experts.
Why Representation Matters
Representation is powerful. When young women see other women thriving in technical roles, it expands what feels possible. It shifts IT support from being seen as “not for me” to “why not me?”
Within MSPs, representation has a multiplier effect. Diverse teams approach problem-solving differently. They bring varied perspectives to complex technical challenges. They improve communication with a broader range of clients. They challenge assumptions and introduce new ideas.
Research consistently shows that diverse teams perform better, innovate more effectively, and make stronger decisions. But beyond performance metrics, there’s a cultural shift that happens when women are visible in IT support roles. The workplace becomes more inclusive. The conversation changes. Recruitment practices evolve. Mentorship becomes more accessible.
This International Women in Tech Day, it’s important not just to acknowledge these benefits, but to actively invest in them.
Creating a Supportive Environment
Celebrating women in IT isn’t just about highlighting success stories once a year. It’s about creating environments where women can thrive long term.
That includes:
- Clear progression pathways into senior technical and leadership roles
- Equal access to training and certifications
- Active mentorship and sponsorship
- Inclusive recruitment practices
- Flexible working policies that recognise diverse life circumstances
For apprentices especially, early career support is critical. Confidence grows through encouragement, constructive feedback, and opportunities to take ownership of real responsibility.
At Minerva, supporting our female apprentices and technical staff isn’t about ticking a box. It’s about nurturing potential. It’s about recognising that the future of IT support depends on attracting and retaining diverse talent.
Looking Ahead
International Women in Tech Day is both a celebration and a call to action. The progress we’ve made in increasing female representation in technology is real, but there is still work to do.
For MSPs across the industry, the message is clear: talent is everywhere. Opportunity must be too.
Encouraging young women to explore IT support careers starts early, with outreach, education partnerships, apprenticeship programmes, and visible role models. It continues with inclusive workplace cultures and leadership that actively values diversity.
Minerva’s three female Application Support colleagues represent more than individual career journeys. They represent possibility. They represent the next generation of IT professionals who will shape how businesses operate, innovate, and protect themselves in an increasingly digital world.
This Women in Tech Day, we celebrate them, as well as every woman building a career in IT support and software development. We celebrate the resilience it takes to step into a traditionally male-dominated field. We celebrate the curiosity that drives technical mastery. We celebrate the confidence that grows with every solved ticket, every configured server, every resolved incident.
And we reaffirm our commitment to building a future where women in tech are not the exception, but the expectation.
Because when women thrive in IT support, the entire industry moves forward.