Akamai will bring its FLAME community and industry expertise to help women build pathways into AI and technology

United Kingdom - London | 29 September 2026 - Akamai Technologies joins Women into Frontier Tech as a founding anchor employer, supporting a programme designed to help 250 women develop the necessary skills, experience and networks to pursue careers in AI and technology.

The 12-week programme, delivered by Girls Talk Corporation and Enterprise4all and funded by Innovate UK, will train women as AI Deployment Consultants across two cohorts. Participants will develop skills in AI fundamentals, deployment, safety and governance, and will undertake a live SME placement. They will also receive career coaching and support to help them secure entry-level roles.

The programme addresses the growing demand for AI skills in the UK. A 2025 UK Government AI Labour Market Survey found that 97% of surveyed organisations identified at least one AI skills gap, yet women accounted for only 20% of AI roles.

As a founding anchor employer, Akamai will contribute to the programme by running mentoring circles and masterclasses that focus on the human skills that complement AI. Participants will gain practical insight into the technology industry and have the opportunity to connect with experienced professionals, role models and potential employers.

This builds on Akamai’s FLAME (Female Learning and Mentoring Experience) community, which supports women in technology through mentoring, networking, and professional development.

“AI is creating new opportunities across the technology sector. However, it is crucial that people from diverse backgrounds gain the necessary skills, experience, and support to be able to take advantage of these opportunities. As a founding member of FLAME, I have witnessed the positive impact that mentoring, networking and access to role models can have on the careers of women in technology. Through our partnership with Women into Frontier Tech, we are proud to extend this commitment to women building careers in AI and help create pathways into tomorrow's tech jobs,” says Natalie Billingham, Akamai’s Senior Vice President of EMEA Sales and Channels and Managing Director of EMEA.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Akamai as a founding anchor employer for Women into Frontier Tech. Their support allows us to go beyond simply teaching women AI skills, giving them real-world experience alongside access to the networks, role models and employers that can help turn those skills into careers. AI represents one of the biggest technological shifts of our generation, and we have to make sure women are not left behind. Having a global technology leader like Akamai backing our mission is incredibly important as we work to equip more women with the skills, experience and opportunities to play an active role in the future of technology,” says Vanessa Sanyauke, Founder & CEO of Girls Talk Corporation.

"Everyone's debating whether AI will take jobs. Meanwhile, thousands of UK SMEs can't find a single person who knows how to use it. We're fixing both problems at once: training talented people the job market overlooked, and sending them into businesses to deliver results from week one. Akamai funding learners means industry is now helping to fund the fix, and it's how we reach our target of training 10,000 people by 2030”, adds Malin Patel, CEO, Enterprise4all.

About Girls Talk Corporation

Girls Talk Corporation is a community-first platform connecting 60,000 women across the UK, Europe and Africa to career opportunities in technology and financial services. It has delivered the largest global tech summit for women of colour and worked with companies including Meta, Apple, Amazon, Snap, Virgin Media O2, Vodafone and BT.

About Enterprise4all

Enterprise4all is an independent training provider delivering government-funded Skills Bootcamps and consultancy services. Government-contracted for AI and digital delivery since 2021 and Ofsted-rated at expected standard, it has trained 250+ people, placed them with 30 employers, and delivered 40+ AI and digital cohorts across the UK.

About Akamai

Akamai is the cloud company that powers and protects an AI-driven world. Our cloud platform extends high-performance cloud computing from the core to the edge, enabling organizations to build and scale next-generation AI applications while delivering comprehensive, multi-layered security to safeguard enterprises against evolving cyber threats. Learn more at akamai.com and akamai.com/blog, or follow Akamai Technologies on X and LinkedIn.

About FLAME

FLAME (Female Learning and Mentoring Experience) is Akamai’s UKI initiative dedicated to empowering women in technology through mentorship, networking and professional development. To learn more, join the FLAME LinkedIn group.