In just under a week, PlayStation users will be able to don the iconic fedora and whip of Indiana Jones, with the arrival of the Great Circle on PS5. Read more

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here Right now Dead By Daylight fans can participate in BeHaviour’s Blood Moon event. For April 2025, players can get over one million Bloodpoints in total by combining the event’s daily login rewards with BP from BeHaviour’s latest apology. While the Blood Moon event is a lot of fun, soon DBD players will be able to play as a new survivor. There are no official details as of writing, but BeHaviour has begun teasing the new Dead By Daylight survivor, meanwhile, an American Horror Story star has seemingly confirmed their involvement. New Dead By Daylight survivor The new Dead By Daylight survivor will come out at the beginning of May, but players on Steam will be able to experience the newcomer first in a PTB on April 15th. All we officially know about the character as of writing is that they are original, meaning they are not a crossover from another license. In addition, we know that they are a sole survivor, so they will not be accompanied by a map or anything else. This is as much as we know about the new survivor as of writing, but BeHaviour has uploaded a teaser on X. Image credit: @DeadbyDaylight on X The teaser is a recording, and BeHaviour has confirmed it is “not AI voice work”. The teaser seems to imply that we are getting a nurse, and many comments have pointed out that there’s a feeling of Grey’s Anatomy. While this is the only teaser shared by BeHaviour as of writing, it appears that the character could be voiced by American Horror Story’s Angelica Ross. As pointed out by Dvveet on X with a screenshot of proof, Angelica Ross liked an Instagram post from Dead By Daylight teasing the new survivor. Image credit: @Dveet on X This doesn’t confirm Angelica is involved, but it heavily suggests. From American Horror Story 1984, Angelica Ross is known for playing Donna Chambers, Nurse Rita, which could again lend credence to the belief we are getting a nurse. Even if Angelica Ross is involved, the new survivor is an original character. It’s possible the survivor could be inspired by Nurse Rita in American Horror Story, but it is not an official crossover. Make sure to keep an eye on DBD socials for more teasers ahead of the PTB on April 15th. For more Dead By Daylight content, check out our ranking of the top 10 DLC expansions to buy along with a ranking of the best killer perks and best survivor perks. Dead by Daylight Platform(s): Google Stadia, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X Genre(s): Action, Survival Horror 7 VideoGamer Related Topics Dead by Daylight Subscribe to our newsletters! By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime. Share

Justin didn’t stay long at the mammoth-size party pad. By the end of the year, he’d already moved onto a different spot, this time paying $59,000 a month for an unusually structured home in Beverly Hills known colloquially as the Salad Spinner House for its curved glass-and-steel framework. Originally designed by renowned architect Ed Niles (known for his industrial aesthetic), the mansion included six bedrooms and six and a half bathrooms, with a glass-enclosed courtyard and a seven-car garage. Justin ended up staying at the uniquely shaped dwelling for just two months, however; the circular walls of glass didn’t offer much privacy, and the singer moved out after running into issues with trespassing fans.Beverly Hills rentalIn early 2015, Justin shelled out $35,000 for his next rental property, a comparatively conservative five-bedroom, six-bathroom, 6,000-square-foot spot, also in Beverly Hills. Images of the home showed sleek stone floor-to-ceiling fireplaces, double-height hallways adorned with graffiti art, sleek dark wood floors, and a pool fed with an impressive fountain out back. There was also a home theater. The “Baby” singer stayed there for a little over a year before moving on once more, this time a little north to Toluca Lake.Toluca Lake estateBy early 2016, Justin and Hailey were spotted together on and off the red carpet, and though they both confirmed that there was something romantic between them—they denied that they were exclusively dating in separate interviews. Justin told GQ in an interview that Hailey was “someone I really love”; Hailey told E! News that the pair were dating but not exclusive. “Relationships at this age are already complicated, but I don’t really like to talk about it because it’s between me and him,” the model said at the time. Amid the romance rumors and his busy tour schedule, Justin snagged an $80,000-a-month rental in Toluca Lake, a ten-bedroom, 16-bathroom behemoth that measured 13,000 square feet. The residence also included a screening room, a separate guesthouse, and a pool, into which Bieber and his pals would reportedly cannonball from the estate’s roof.Free Hamptons rentalThat summer, Justin reportedly wanted to find a place to crash in the Hamptons, but the Sandcastle, a 26,500-square-foot megamansion he had his eye on, was unavailable. (Jay Z and Beyonce were previous renters of the impressive summer home.) With some creativity, however, the owner, housebuilder Joe Farrell, was able to find a viable solution for both the Biebs and himself (read: his 12-year-old daughter). Farrell gave Justin a different mansion of his—which typically rented for about $160,000 for half a month—for two weeks, completely free of charge. In exchange, Justin gifted Farrell and his daughter with a private concert at their home, as well as tickets to his concert in Hartford, Connecticut, later that year.London rentalJustin made his first foray into international real estate in late 2016, when he rented a $133,000-a-month mansion situated just northwest of London. The sprawling 1910 estate measured 27,000 square feet and was set on 2.5 acres, with 15 bedrooms and 13 bathrooms, two kitchens, multiple dining and living areas, and a wine cellar. There was both an indoor and an outdoor pool, a five-car garage, tennis courts, and a courtyard and gardens. At the time, the Evening Standard reported that Bieber was planning on splitting his time between LA and London after “falling in love with the area” on a past visit, though it doesn’t appear this came to fruition. Justin was back Stateside several months later.Beverly Hills bachelor padAfter his brief stint in the UK, Justin found his way back to Beverly Hills in 2017 with a $55,000-a-month rental that boasted six bedrooms and five and a half bathrooms. The sleek bachelor pad measured 8,600 square feet, with clean lines, dark hardwood floors, recessed lighting, and large windows that opened completely for optimal indoor-outdoor flow. Notable features included a see-through fish tank set into the wall, a primary bathroom with a TV hanging across from the tub, and a pool that overflowed onto a second-level patio to create a moatlike waterway. Much of the pad’s exteriors were made up of cement and wood, making for a rather unique stone-like aesthetic.Ontario lakehouseFast-forward to 2018, after Justin and Hailey had broken up and then rekindled their romance at a church conference in Miami. (“The common denominator, I promise you, is always church,” Hailey told Vogue a year later of what brought them back together.) The pair got engaged in July and Justin dropped $5 million on a 101-acre property in his home province of Ontario, Canada, the following month. The lakeside residence features a 9,000-square-foot main house, with four bedrooms and six bathrooms, as well as a private gym, a game room, a movie theater, a two-story wine cellar, and three fireplaces. There is also private access to the nearby lake, as well as a private equestrian facility with a barn, stables, and a race track. The couple still own this estate, and this is where they spent much of the early part of the pandemic together, sharing TikTok dances with their fans.Toluca Lake rental mansionStateside, the couple rented a Spanish-contemporary-style home for $100,000 a month following their courthouse wedding in September 2018. At the time, the property was reportedly on the market for $8.5 million, but Justin negotiated a month-to-month lease, presumably because he and Hailey were only renting whilst searching for their dream home. The residence measured 7,000 square feet and included five bedrooms and seven bathrooms, with a professional recording studio, a gym, a chef’s kitchen, and a six-car garage. The house also had a private dock on Toluca Lake.Beverly Hills Colonial homeThe following spring, the newlyweds purchased their first LA home together, an $8.5 million 1930s Monterey colonial in Beverly Hills. The stunning brick house measured 6,132 square feet, with five bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a sunken family room (featured frequently on both Justin and Hailey’s Instagram accounts), and a number of other chic amenities, including a wood-paneled library, a home theater, and an Art Deco–inspired wet bar and wine cellar outfitted with eye-catching Martinique print wallpaper. An infinity pool and a cabana out back made for a lush oasis. By fall, however, it appeared as though the singer was done with the home, posting images of the impressive pad on his Instagram in a seeming bid for buyers. “I think I wanna sell my home in Beverly Hills who wants it,” he captioned the post. In a later post, he said he was willing to sell the house with all the furniture in it. “MAKE AN OFFER,” he wrote. They later formally listed the home for $8.995 million in late 2020 and sold it at a loss for $7.995 million in early February 2021.Beverly Park primary residenceThe Biebers in Los Angeles in late 2023. Photo: Bellocqimages/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

Since Nintendo revealed its new console, the prices of Switch 2 itself, Mario Kart World and the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour have all discourses. Read more

Image: Zion Grassl / Nintendo LifeUK high street chain GAME is auctioning off a number of unusual items from its warehouse and head office in Basingstoke, which is closing down. Eurogamer has found a number of listings on NCM Auctions for items, ranging from standard warehouse units such as palette units, metal shelves, and fridges, and office furniture such as tables, chairs, and desks. But among the listings are a ship stand for TY Beanie Babies, a football table, a poster of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, and trading card holders. All of these are being sold as lots and are collection only. Both the warehouse and head office have been the headquarters of the company for over 20 years, and their closure is yet another blip in what seems to be the steady decline of the chain. GAME is owned by the Fraser Group, the same company that owns House of Fraser and Sports Direct, and in recent years, most GAME stores have been shuffled into Sports Direct as a concession. Last year, GAME ended its reward program, and reports circled that the store would also be ending physical sales of games and in-store pre-orders. Earlier this year, GAME was also called out for extortionate prices on Pokémon Trading Cards, which it later reduced. But the woes seem to continue for the retailer, which won't be offering in-store pre-orders for the Switch 2. Numerous changes at the company have resulted in lay-offs across the board in recent years, and we wish for the best for those working at the company. Let us know your thoughts on GAME in the comments below. You won't get one Most employees now under zero hour contracts [source bidonline.ncmauctions.co.uk, via eurogamer.net] Share:27 1 Alana has been with Nintendo Life since 2022, and while RPGs are her first love, Nintendo is a close second. She enjoys nothing more than overthinking battle strategies, characters, and stories. She also wishes she was a Sega air pirate. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment... Related Articles UK Switch 2 Fans, Don't Bother Going To GAME Stores For Your Pre-Order You won't get one Ex-PlayStation Boss Comments On Switch 2's "Hefty" Price Hikes "Exclusivity kind of mitigates the sticker shock" Nintendo Shares Plummet In Wake Of Trump Tariff Action US pre-order postponement woes Nintendo Is (Kinda) Returning To Region-Locking With A Cheaper Japanese Switch 2 Priced 49,980 yen, which is around $333 USD Amazon UK's Switch 2 Pre-Orders Won't Be Invite-Only For Long Wrapping up soon

The business of moving goods in the United States is dominated by trucks, which handle about two-thirds of the 20.2 billion tons of freight that’s transported annually. Parallel Systems founder and CEO, Matt Soule, wants to change that by putting a modern autonomous and electric twist on the centuries-old railroad system.  The Los Angeles-based company is building battery-powered autonomous freight technology that works with existing freight cars and integrates with existing train control software. Soule’s pitch: Parallel’s system makes it less expensive for companies to use rail — not trucks — for short-distance deliveries. Rail has been traditionally underutilized because trains are typically powered by large and expensive locomotives that pull hundreds of freight cars at a time over long distances, Soule explained to TechCrunch. Businesses often turn to trucks for moving freight shorter distances.  Parallel Systems developed a system that allows train cars to attach and detach autonomously. This means companies can use Parallel’s tech for a variety of different delivery sizes and humans don’t have to manually connect and disconnect the cars — a dangerous process. Parallel’s tech also allows freight cars to brake significantly quicker than existing trains, Soule added. “We’re using a different physical architecture to accomplish truck competitive economics at small scale rather than big scale,” Soule said. “The vehicle itself is compatible with existing rail infrastructure. It is designed and being demonstrated to operate alongside traditional rail operations. We’re not proposing to replace existing freight trains with this.” Parallel’s tech fits on existing freight cars. Parallel recently was approved by the Federal Railroad Administration to start piloting the tech in Georgia. This program will allow the company to test its tech-enabled trains along a 160-mile stretch between the Port of Savannah in Savannah, Georgia, and multiple distribution sites in the state. Parallel also recently raised a $38 million Series B round co-led by Anthos Capital and Collaborative Fund with participation from Congruent Ventures and Riot Ventures, among others. This brings Parallel’s total funding to more than $100 million. The fresh capital will be put toward commercialization with the company hoping to host its initial commercial launch in 2026. Sophie Bakalar, a partner at Collaborative Fund, told TechCrunch that while Parallel doesn’t neatly fit into its consumer-leaning generalist thesis, the firm was intrigued by the company after getting introduced through an existing founder in their portfolio. While Collaborative Fund doesn’t invest in this area typically, shipping and the movement of goods does have a big impact on the consumer companies Collab is usually backing, said Bakalar, adding that it’s hard to pass up a good opportunity — even if it is off-thesis. “I think this team is really uniquely-positioned to solve this problem,” Bakalar said. “Just not many folks are going to be able to do it. I think it is a team that has a founder-product fit. It is a massive market and a massive challenge.” Soule doesn’t have a background in rail, specifically. However, he does have a history of working in regulated transportation. He spent 20 years in aerospace, 13 of which were at SpaceX. “We were constantly developing new technologies,” Soule said. “I worked in avionics, which is electronics and software that controls the rocket and got incredibly curious about how all these technologies could benefit other types of industries that have maybe not seen as much innovation.” He launched the company in 2020 and now, five years later, Parallel has built out the technology and is focused on commercialization. While getting companies to change their shipping and distribution strategies could be a large feat, demand for different solutions is there, Soule said. He added that that they have had interest from across the globe but plan to focus on the U.S. and Australia for now. This news also comes as the U.S. hangs in tariff limbo. If tariffs do end up going through, Bakalar predicts it could stir up more demand for companies like Parallel as companies will likely be looking to cut costs in any way. “This is like a generational innovation in terms of freight and you don’t see a lot of change in the freight industry,” Soule said. “But this is hitting on points that matter.”

Microlight3D, a manufacturer of high-resolution 2D and 3D printing solutions, and Eden Tech, a leader in microfluidic technologies, have announced a new partnership aimed at delivering advanced, high-precision microfluidic design tools to researchers and developers across the healthcare, diagnostics, and research sectors. The collaboration integrates Microlight3D’s Smart Print UV, a maskless lithography tool offering micron-level precision, with Eden Tech’s FLUI’DEVICE design platform. Together, these technologies reduce design cycles by up to 90% compared to traditional CAD workflows. The partnership also aims to improve the accessibility, customization, and scalability of microfluidic devices. “Microlight3D is excited to partner with Eden Tech, a recognized leader in microfluidics, to bring groundbreaking innovations to the healthcare and research sectors,” said Denis Barbier, CEO of Microlight3D. “We are now able to offer customers worldwide a solution for quickly and easily creating high-precision microfluidic designs compatible with the formats used by our machines. This will enable our users to integrate this tool into their current workflow, while streamlining the steps involved.” Microlight3D’s Smart Print UV. Photo via: Microlight3D Accelerating Microfluidic Design Key benefits include a 90% reduction in design time compared to traditional CAD tools. The software allows users to transition from concept to production-ready design in hours, rather than days. Its intuitive interface also minimizes the need for extensive training or external design services, leading to cost savings of 60%.  The platform supports faster iterations than traditional CAD software, resulting in higher precision in both design and simulation.It also offers compatibility with various export formats, ensuring smooth integration with production systems and minimizing errors during the manufacturing phase. Additionally, the solution is versatile, catering to both academic and industrial users, allowing projects to scale seamlessly from research to full production. The platform provides access to a comprehensive library of modules, enabling the creation of more sophisticated and customized designs. “We believe that this partnership will set a new benchmark in the field of microfluidics,” said Victor Morel Cahoreau, head of sales at Eden Tech. “With healthcare systems and research laboratories increasingly seeking efficient and reliable microfluidic devices, the demand for solutions that integrate precision, scalability and cost-effectiveness has never been greater. This partnership directly addresses these needs by offering solutions that streamline production processes and reduce time-to-market for critical healthcare technologies. Microlight3D booth. Photo: Microlight3D 3D Printing Microfluidic DevicesQueensland University of Technology evaluated resin 3D printing for the production of microfluidic components for cell-based applications. The study used MOIIN High Temp and MOIIN Tech Clear resins from DMG Digital Enterprises, along with ASIGA UV Max X27 DLP 3D printers, to fabricate common microfluidic designs, including 2D monolayer culture devices, pillar arrays, and constricting channels for droplet generators. The study concluded that MOIIN High Temp and MOIIN Tech Clear resins are effective at 3D printing microfluidic channels for cell-based applications. Both materials were confirmed to be biocompatible and visible through imaging platforms such as microscopes. Elsewhere, researchers from Stanford University developed a new high-resolution resin 3D printing process. This approach eliminates the risk of over-curing resin in negative spaces, such as channels or voids, making it particularly well-suited for 3D printing microfluidic devices. The paper was co-authored by Joseph M. DeSimone, Co-founder and former CEO of California-based 3D printer manufacturer Carbon. Now serving as a board member at the company, DeSimone played a key role in the development of Carbon’s patented Continuous Liquid Interface Production (CLIP) technology. The Stanford team utilized a modified version of CLIP, known as Injection CLIP (iCLIP), in their research. Who won the 2024 3D Printing Industry Awards? Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter to keep up with the latest 3D printing news. You can also follow us on LinkedIn, and subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry Youtube channel to access more exclusive content. Featured image shows Microlight3D booth. Photo: Microlight3D Paloma Duran Paloma Duran holds a BA in International Relations and an MA in Journalism. Specializing in writing, podcasting, and content and event creation, she works across politics, energy, mining, and technology. With a passion for global trends, Paloma is particularly interested in the impact of technology like 3D printing on shaping our future.

In a brief executive order (EO) titled “Maintaining Acceptable Water Pressure In Showerheads” and dated April 9, 2025, President Trump “ordered” the repeal of the 13,000-word regulation defining “showerhead” as published in the Energy Department’s Energy Conservation Program. A supporting fact sheet declares that the White House is undoing “the Left’s war on water pressure” and is ending “the Obama-Biden war on water pressure” to “make America’s showers great again.” Notably, the EO does not outlaw the production or purchase of low-flow showerheads but just changes the federal government’s definition. The EO continues the administration’s heavy-handed editorial style: Its directive essentially recommends the distillation of a lengthy, multipart document that runs to 13,000 words down to a short sentence. If the OED’s definition is similar to that of the Cambridge Dictionary—ten words: “the part of a shower that water flows out of”—then the edict represents a stunningly muscular edit that removes 99.99 percent of the prior text in its new version. The fact sheet wagers that “overregulation chokes the American economy, entrenches bureaucrats, and stifles personal freedom.” The showerhead definition “served a radical green agenda that made life worse for everyday Americans.” With this EO, Trump also takes aim at water conservation: The prior standard set the “maximum water use allowed for any showerhead manufactured after January 1, 1994,” as 2.5 gallons per minute (GPM). The goal of this figure was to help reduce water use in American households. According to information published by the EPA that was last updated in 2024, showering accounted “for nearly 17 percent of residential indoor water use—for the average family, that adds up to nearly 40 gallons per day. That’s nearly 1.2 trillion gallons of water used in the United States annually just for showering.” These figures previously prompted the development of the WaterSense, a label awarded to products that use 2.0 GPM of water. Many low-flow showerheads use even less water, like 1.5 GPM, with some available models using as little as 0.625 GPM. As many parts of the country are experiencing intensified droughts due to climate change, low-flow devices that save both water and money seem like a smart option. Trump is recommending the same standard of 2.5 GPM but without all the other descriptions. This EO, according to the White House, “frees Americans from excessive regulations that turned a basic household item into a bureaucratic nightmare. No longer will showerheads be weak and worthless.” Products with multiple individual showerheads and a body spray (Courtesy Department of Energy) His Beautiful Hair When signing the EO this week, Trump said, “I like to take a nice shower to take care of my beautiful hair,” according to The New York Times. He continued, “I stand under the shower for 15 minutes until it gets wet. It comes out drip, drip, drip. It’s ridiculous.” Trump’s remarks echo prior comments on the subject. As reported by The New York Times, in 2023, he told a group of Republican leaders at dinner that he has “this gorgeous head of hair—when I take a shower, I want water to pour down on me. When you go into these new homes with showers, the water drips down slowly, slowly.” In a 2020 clip that aired on Fox News, he quipped, “You take a shower, the water doesn’t come out,” “You want to wash your hands, the water doesn’t come out. So what do you do? You just stand there longer or you take a shower longer? Because my hair—I don’t know about you—but it has to be perfect. Perfect.” Nozzlegate May Stimulate New Showerhead Designs At the core of the existential showerhead debate is the criteria for multinozzle showerheads. The “Obama administration ordered the 2.5-gallon limit to be applied to each shower head, not each nozzle,” per The New York Times, which meant that devices with multiple spray sources were counted as a single showerhead. Trump, during his first administration, changed the definition to mean that each nozzle was counted individually, so that each could allow a flow of 2.5 GPM. There were no limits on the nozzle count. In a proposed rule, Trump’s first administration released concept designs for potential arrangements with up to eight nozzles, which meant the device could emit up to 20 GPM. What would a multiheaded, gold-plated showerhead that spews dozens of gallons of water per minute look like? Here is one imagining, via ChatGPT. (OpenAI/ChatGPT) The sketches raise a potential brand collaboration: As more businesses and individuals seek to curry favor with Trump, what company might seek to deliver bathroom products that respond to Trump’s brief. What would a multiheaded, gold-plated showerhead that spews dozens of gallons of water per minute look like? Here is one imagining, via ChatGPT: Perhaps we can expect to see water-intensive devices like this as an early trend for 2026 bath products? Time will tell. No More Dumb Wars Trump has long had a problem with low-flow showerheads. During his first presidency, according to the fact sheet, “President Trump sought to undo this definition in his first term by publishing extensive analysis and a formal rule—however, Biden undid this progress and the shower wars continued. The government should not waste taxpayer time and money writing another elaborate definition for a term that has a simple definition. No market failure justifies this intrusion: Americans pay for their own water and should be free to choose their showerheads without federal meddling.” This latest EO continues Trump’s tirade against regulations for products used in buildings and interiors. Earlier in his term, he complained about light bulbs, among other household products. The fact sheet continued: “It’s not just showers—the Biden Administration aggressively targeted everyday appliances like gas stoves, water heaters, washing machines, furnaces, dishwashers, and more, waging war on the reliable tools Americans depend on daily. These appliances worked perfectly fine before Biden’s meddling piled on convoluted regulations that made those appliances worse. President Trump is slashing red tape and ending Biden’s dumb war on things that work.”

Built c.1805 for Elisha Payne, this architecturally distinguished Federal style mansion in Canturbury, Connecticut is one of the most significant buildings in the state, not only for its architecture but historical significance. In 1831, a young white woman, Prudence Crandall, was asked to open a boarding school for girls in Canterbury. She purchased this mansion and began operations for the school, which was attended by many wealthy girls in town. In 1832, Ms. Crandall was approached by a young Black girl who worked as a servant in town, named Sarah Harris, asking to attend the school. Encouraged by conversations with both Harris and Maria Davis, a Black woman who worked for Crandall and shared copies of the abolitionist newspaper The Liberator with her, Crandall agreed to admit Harris. Almost immediately, residents protested the school’s admission of a Black girl and parents threatened to withdraw their students, Crandall undeterred, closed her school and reopened in 1833, solely for Black and Brown students. Young girls traveled from several states to attend the school. The legislature of Connecticut responded by passing the “Black Law,” which prevented out-of-state Black and Brown people from attending school in Connecticut towns without local town approval. Crandall was arrested, spent one night in jail, and faced three court trials before the case was dismissed. In September 1834, a nighttime mob of men attacked the house, smashing the windows, leading Crandall to close the school out of fear for her students as no protections were afforded to them. These events made national and international news in the 1830s and galvanized the burgeoning abolitionist movement. Crandall would later marry and left Connecticut, never to return. For her vision and brave actions at this school, Prudence Crandall is Connecticut’s official state heroine and the house was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1991.

Atstock Productions - stock.adob News Work-life balance biggest barrier for women in tech, says survey A lack of work-life balance and discrimination are among the biggest challenges for women in tech, finds Lorien By Clare McDonald, Business Editor Published: 11 Apr 2025 16:04 Maintaining work-life balance has been the biggest challenge many women in the technology industry have come up against, according to a survey. Recruitment firm Lorien surveyed women in the technology sector and found 45% claimed to have had difficulties with work-life balance in their role, making it the biggest barrier they have faced in their career. Almost 30% said their biggest roadblock as women in the sector is gender bias and discrimination. “While the proportion of women in technology is steadily increasing, we can’t afford to become complacent,” said Darren Topping, director of enterprise solutions, insights and partnerships for Lorien’s parent company Impellam Group. “The next hurdle is ensuring that women feel they have equal opportunities for career progression, with greater representation at senior levels. Creating a truly inclusive workplace means recognising that work-life balance is not a luxury, but a necessity.” The number of women choosing a technology career is increasing, but slowly, with research from BCS finding in the four years to 2022 the number of women in the UK tech sector increased by just 4% – from 16% in 2018 to 20% in 2022. The reasons for this slow growth are many, though one of the most cited reasons is a lack of inclusive culture in the tech workplace putting women off joining or forcing them to leave.  Lorien found that 75% of women in the technology sector believe their current work environment is inclusive and offers them support. But when it comes to career development, only a quarter think they have the same career advancement opportunities as their male counterparts. Inequality between men and women in society leads to difficulties for women in the tech workplace – women are more likely than men to have care responsibilities, for example, meaning the ability to work flexibly is increasingly important for women when looking for tech roles. Almost 30% of those who answered Lorien’s survey believe flexible working is a trend that will significantly affect women in the future, and the Tech Talent Charter recently found that almost 12% of women in tech have dropped out in their roles to be able to better fulfil their care responsibilities. TTC also found that 40% of women said whether they plan to stay in their role depends on their current care responsibilities. Topping said: “Flexible working policies, equal parental support and clear career progression pathways are essential. When companies prioritise mental health, implement fair workload management and foster supportive leadership, they empower women to advance and succeed in their careers.” When it comes to ways women have been assisted with their technology careers, 31% felt their biggest support came from in-house training sponsored by the company they are working for, closely followed by professional networks. While 12% of women claiming a lack of mentorship is the biggest barrier they’ve faced in their tech career, only 17% said their biggest career support had come from mentorship programmes. Emphasis is often put on the need for role models in the technology sector – the more people are able to see others like themselves treading a certain path, the more confident and inspired they will feel to go in the same direction. But when it comes to the reasons behind choosing a career in IT, almost half said it was an interest in technology that drove them to pursue their roles, with only 6% saying their drive to go into tech was influenced by role models and mentors – however, it is not specified what the driving factor was for those with an interest in technology from a young age. A quarter of women claimed their interest in a tech role was guided by the large number of job opportunities available in the sector, while 20% were drawn by the sector’s high salaries. But women are still underrepresented in the technology sector, and 54% of women believe other women are often discouraged from considering a career in tech. There are various factors that discourage women from technology roles – 49% of women said they were more likely to join an organisation if they had heard about the career stories of other women in that organisation, and 56% said the same if a firm had evidence of an equally gender-balanced workforce. Equality initiatives, female professional support networks and good representation of women in leadership positions are all qualities that would make more than 50% of women more likely to choose to join an organisation. Around a fifth of women advised others looking into a tech career to look for mentors in the industry, and 22% advised focusing on professional network. Keeping skills up to date was the most popular career advice (39%) women would give to others looking for a job in the tech sector. Meanwhile, 40% of women said increased representation of women in leadership positions is vital for encouraging more women into the technology sector, with a quarter also saying the same of properly developed gender equality practices in organisations. “These findings make it clear that companies cannot afford to be passive about gender diversity in tech,” said Annelise Smith, managing director, workforce solutions at Impellam Group. “Women are confident and capable, yet systemic barriers continue to hold them back. Businesses that fail to address these issues risk losing top talent to competitors who prioritise inclusion and equal opportunity.” Read more about women in technology A dedicated Women in Tech Week event, coffee roulette, and boosting knowledge, confidence and connections – the women in tech work at Dunelm is building momentum. A combination of the types of jobs women perform and biases influencing the development of artificial intelligence leaves them in more danger of AI disruption. In The Current Issue: Interview: The role of IT innovation at Royal Ballet and Opera ‘Bankenstein’ and a cold calculation means banking crashes will continue Download Current Issue No Complaints About Automating Compliance – Networks Generation NTT details AI ‘inference chip’, enables real-time 4K video processing – CW Developer Network View All Blogs