FemCoders
Inclusive Upskilling Programme for Women in High-Demand Digital Skills
Theme: Promoting skills and development
Phase and Stage: DIGITAL – Upskilling / reskilling
Action: Curriculum development
Beneficiaries: Private Companies; Girls Only; Women Only
Users: Policy makers; Education providers; Training Providers; Private Companies; Researchers and experts; NGOs/Society
In Spain, the digital transformation of the economy is advancing rapidly, generating sustained demand for qualified professionals in areas such as software development, artificial intelligence, cloud computing and cybersecurity. However, this growth is not being matched by equal gender representation in the sector.
Currently, only around one in four technology positions in Spain is held by a woman. This structural underrepresentation reflects a persistent digital gender gap, shaped by unequal access to technical education, limited exposure to digital career pathways and systemic barriers affecting women’s participation in high-demand digital professions.
At the same time, Spain faces a significant need for qualified digital talent. Thousands of tech-related vacancies remain unfilled, while many women with high potential have limited access to intensive, market-aligned training opportunities that would allow them to transition into the sector.
Factoría F5 was created to bridge this gap by connecting people with less access to opportunities and the unmet talent needs of the digital economy . Within this framework, FemCoders was developed as a strategic initiative specifically designed to contribute to the reduction of the digital gender gap in Spain.
The key objectives of the programme are:
- To increase women’s participation in high-demand digital fields.
- To provide access to intensive, employment-oriented technical training.
- To facilitate sustainable professional integration into the Spanish digital labour market.
FemCoders therefore responds simultaneously to a gender equity challenge and to a national economic competitiveness need, positioning inclusive upskilling as a structural solution to reduce the digital gender gap in Spain.
THE CHALLENGE
The main challenge identified was not only the low participation of women in digital professions, but the structural gap between existing training pathways and real access to employment in the tech sector. Specifically, the challenges included: Underrepresentation of women in technical digital roles. Limited access to intensive, market-oriented digital training programmes designed specifically for women. High entry barriers for women without previous technical backgrounds. Lack of safe and confidence-building learning environments that encourage persistence in highly technical disciplines. The need to align training content directly with current industry demands to ensure employability outcomes. This challenge was directly linked to the broader context of digital transformation and labour market demand, where companies require qualified talent but gender inequality persists.
OUR SOLUTION
To overcome these challenges, Factoría F5 designed and implemented FemCoders as an intensive upskilling programme exclusively for women, focused on high-demand digital skills. Key elements of the solution included: Intensive, full-time technical training (several hundred to over one thousand hours depending on the specialisation). A curriculum aligned with market demand in areas such as Full Stack Development, Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing and Cybersecurity. A methodology based on active learning and project-based practice, simulating real professional environments. No prior technical knowledge required, widening access to women from diverse educational and professional backgrounds. Structured mentoring, continuous evaluation and personalised follow-up. Strong partnerships with companies to ensure alignment with employability needs and facilitate labour market transitions. Safe, women-only learning environments that foster persistence, peer support and technical confidence. The programme is delivered nationally and implemented through strategic alliances with public and private stakeholders.
OUTCOME
The implementation of FemCoders – Inclusive Upskilling Programme for Women in High-Demand Digital Skills has generated measurable and concrete results in Spain.
Quantitative outcomes:
- +600 women trained through the FemCoders programme.
- 25 intensive digital training programmes delivered, including:
> Full Stack Development (with specialisations in Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity or DevOps)
> Generative Artificial Intelligence
> Cloud Computing
> High completion rates aligned with Factoría F5’s overall strong success indicators .
Profile of participants:
The programme has primarily reached women in working age with strong employability potential:
- 43.07% aged 25–34
- 43.67% aged 35–49
- 8.13% aged 18–24
- 5.12% aged 50–64
- 0% under 18 or above 64
This distribution demonstrates that the programme effectively supports adult women in active professional transition stages, particularly in the 25–49 age range (over 86% of participants), where reskilling impact is highest in terms of labour market integration.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The implementation of FemCoders has generated valuable and transferable insights for organisations seeking to reduce the digital gender gap through high-quality technical training.
1. Gender perspective must be integrated from the outset
Applying a gender perspective only at the training level is insufficient. It must be embedded across the entire programme cycle:
Communication and outreach campaigns:
- Use of inclusive and representative imagery.
- Language adapted to reduce self-exclusion bias.
- Clear and accessible messaging focused on technical opportunity and employability.
Organisational and logistical design:
- Scheduling aligned with participants’ realities.
- Consideration of accessibility barriers.
- Safe, women-only learning environments.
This systemic integration increases participation, retention and programme completion.
2. Dedicated budget for work-life balance support is critical
Allocating a specific budget line for reconciliation support (e.g., childcare or related assistance) significantly improves access and persistence.
Without structural measures that address care responsibilities, participation of women — especially those aged 25–49 — would be substantially lower.
Financial and logistical barriers must be addressed directly, not assumed away.
3. Representation matters in technical environments
The presence of women trainers and women professionals in technical and leadership roles within the programme has proven essential to:
- Strengthen identification and professional projection.
- Break stereotypes around who can occupy high-demand digital roles.
- Increase persistence in highly technical disciplines.
Visible role models in AI, cloud, full stack and cybersecurity create a multiplier effect beyond each cohort.
4. Technical excellence and gender inclusion are compatible
Maintaining high technical standards while widening access is not contradictory. Intensive, market-aligned training combined with gender-responsive design produces strong employability outcomes without lowering rigor.
5. Structural design leads to scalable impact
The success of FemCoders demonstrates that reducing the digital gender gap requires:
- Structural programme design.
- Labour-market alignment.
- Cross-sector partnerships.
- Financial mechanisms that ensure accessibility.
