There is a recognised shortage of females in the Information Technology (IT) industry; a mere fraction of the country's computer graduates are girls; and IT or computing is generally associated with boys rather than girls. That's why an enterprising group of female students, who are completing the second year of an IT Practitioners Award at the St Helens College, decided to set up IT for Girls; a special 'taster' designed to encourage more girls to study the subject. The event, which was aimed at Year 11 girls, took the form of an open invitation for young females to visit the College and take part in a range of demonstrations and presentations of coursework given by the girls themselves. IT for Girls is still an ongoing project, and, although it is aimed at year 11, anyone in the 16 - 19 age group is welcome (including parents). We offer information for any level, so it is not essential to have studied IT before. For further details, ring 01744 623358, or e-mail: mcashmore@sthelens.ac.uk

Once they've successfully completed their College course, the IT for Girls group (Joanne Stanley, Beleeze Brotherton, Kendra Levin, Jade Booth and Hailey Stillwell) intend to use their qualifications to carve out long term, lucrative careers in the computer industry, or go on to further study at university.

PHOTO CAPTION: The IT for Girls group, wearing T shirts specially commissioned for the occasion, pictured with clients Hannah and Emma Sillery, in the IT Suite at the College's Town Centre Campus.