About Us
Black Talent & Leadership in STEM (BTLS)
Black Talent & Leadership in STEM (BTLS) is a brand owned by Ascension X Ltd. BTLS is a cross-industry partner initiative, delivered in collaboration with CW (Cambridge Wireless), Homerton Changemakers, Homerton College, University of Cambridge and Synergy Solutions. We are focused on providing Equity of opportunity for underrepresented groups and in doing so, create empowered leaders in STEM.
The organisation brings together senior leaders from across STEM and other industries to urgently address race equity within the sector and in doing so, understand ways in which to alleviate some of the challenges relating to accessing technical skills, diverse talent and providing workforce sustainability. This forms part of the wider commitment to social mobility, job creation and representation, whilst addressing the industry's specific challenges relating to the deep tech digital skills gap.
Our Vision
Why This Is Important
While the tech industry is rapidly growing, becoming one of the leading sectors in bolstering the UK economy and providing work opportunities across the UK, technology innovation is developing faster than its workforce. Black professionals are vastly under-represented within the sector.
Furthermore, Diverse teams make economic sense:
Research has found that companies that are diverse and inclusive in their hiring practices are more innovative, better equipped to respond to unexpected challenges, discover and meet the needs of different customer bases, and more productive.
Our Mission
We Are On A Mission
To create a community of Companies and Partners who are committed to providing Equity of opportunity for underserved Black communities and in doing so create empowered leaders in STEM.
By joining us on our mission, you are not only deciding to build an industry prepared to meet the ever-changing demands of future generations but also building a culture within your own organisation where innovation, productivity and growth can thrive.
Black Talent & Leadership in STEM (BTLS) is on a mission to address the under-representation of diverse talent with a focus on the Black talent skills gap in STEM and in doing so, make it easier for companies to attract, retain, empower and grow this talent within the sector whilst addressing the urgent need for digital skills.
Join our mission to close the black talent skills gap in STEM
Join Our Mission
About Our Parent Company
Ascension X
Ascension X is dedicated to creating positive transformation through technology, leading advancements in innovation, promoting equity, and ensuring tangible impact. We achieve this by working in collaboration with partners from industry, academia, and policy makers.
Our approach integrates technology, data analysis, collaborative partnerships, and continuous learning to establish quantifiable pathways that advance equity, innovation, and meaningful impact. This ensures each partnership and programme effectively contributes to a more equitable future in STEM.