The computing industry needs more women. Information Technology offers exciting, dynamic, fun careers which are vital for the world’s economy. And above all IT is cool!

Well these are just some of the messages and thoughts behind the A Star Female Computing Awards that have been created by Axios Systems to recognise outstanding female ICT O’Level and A’Level students in the UK and which this year are cosponsored by IBM, Accenture and for the first time, Microsoft.  For the second year running though I had the pleasure of attending the awards ceremony and mingling with the winners at the fabulous Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington (London) along with Clare (Education Group), Nikki (Graduate Recruitment Manager), Justine and Katy (Microsoft student interns from MSN) and Sharon Baylay, Regional General Manager of MSN (below).
                                               

For some reason all of the guys back in the office were clamouring for an invite and I really can’t imagine why…. well maybe it had something to do with the choice of this year’s host, the stunning Katy Hill, former presenter of Blue Peter and Tomorrow’s World and now a DJ on Capital Radio in London; what do you reckon?

Anyway it really was amazing to see the passion that all of these students showed for technology and I really do hope that some of them left inspired to consider studying computing science at university and/or a future career in IT. Congratulations go to all of this year's award winners including the GCSE ICT champion Stephanie Teoh from Birkenhead High School.