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PlayStation is backing a Liverpool-based "bootcamp" by Liverpool Girl Geeks that’s aiming to get more local girls working in the technology and video games sectors.
This six-week Bootcamp is for school age girls aged from 11 to 14, and will be held at Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle starting next month. Sony’s PlayStation brand has signed up to sponsor it, with their endorsement ringing a clear bell that projects like this should be supported.
Sony has a long history in the city. The Japanese tech outfit bought Psygnosis back in 1993 and used Psygnosis’ Wipeout as a launch title for the original PlayStation in Europe and North America. The company still has a large presence in Wavertree where they test video games for the PlayStation.
Michelle Tilley, senior release manager at PlayStation, said: “There is a gender imbalance within our technology sector and we need to take action now to ensure a more balanced and inclusive industry for the future. The games industry is an amazing place to work so we should actively encourage young women to join it by inspiring, championing and empowering them to achieve their dreams. I believe by supporting Liverpool Girl Geeks we are working towards this culture change.”
Liverpool Girl Geeks is founded by Chelsea Slater and Rebecca Jones, hoping to encourage girls from the ages of 11 to 16 to get into the growing tech sector. Last year they ran an eight-week coding academy for teenage girls that attracted 90 applications for 15 places. This year they’re hoping to support more than 400 girls, primarily through their National Lottery-backed Tech for Teens sessions.
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