Gareth Gates and Liberty X are among the pop stars lending support to an initiative to raise the appeal of information technology (IT) among teenage girls

The initiative will also challenge male domination of the industry.

ITbeat is a nationwide competition developed by e-skills UK with the support of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), computer company IBM, the Science Museum and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

It has trawled the country to find and enlist the help of some of the UK IT industry's women movers and shakers.

The role models include Alison Hulme, DJ at Kiss FM, Andrea Duffy, Sony Music Europe's director of e-media, and Shannon Ferguson, Yahoo's director of media and entertainment.

The competition invites girls aged between 11 and 15 to design a web site for their favourite pop star.

Entrants can visit the ITbeat web site, where they will find relevant information about how to get started and build a working pop web site.

Trade Secretary Patricia Hewitt, who is also minister for women and e-minister, said such schemes were necessary for an industry in which the number of female professionals had fallen over the last seven years to just over 20 per cent.

The small numbers of women going into the field had prompted fears of an acute shortage of skilled IT professionals as the industry grew, potentially hampering its ability to compete globally.

Ms Hewitt said: "An IT industry dominated by men is only using half the available talent and creativity. ITbeat represents an innovative approach to engaging girls in IT at an early age.

"The British pop industry makes a huge contribution to the UK economy and has a huge influence on girls of this age.

"I am delighted the BPI and the individual artists are willing to use their influence to help girls to understand IT offers challenges, rewards and opportunities for women to excel. Let's not leave it to the boys."

The closing date for the competition is January 10.

A shortlist of 250 budding web site designers will then take part in what could be the world's largest sleepover, at the Science Museum in London on March 7. The slumber party will enable winners to meet their favourite bands and mingle with celebrities.

The party will end with an exclusive pop concert with awards and prizes for the overall winners.

Other stars lending their support include Blue, Rhianna and 3SL, as well as EastEnders' stars Jack Ryder and Michael Greco.

www.dti.gov.uk
www.itbeat.com