Today is Helen Sharman’s birthday, and we celebrate the legacy of this extraordinary astronaut. She was the first British citizen and the first Western European woman in space.

In May 1991, the Sheffield-born chemist blasted off to the Soviet space station, chosen from over 13,000 applicants for a mission that lasted eight days. Her journey required exceptional curiosity and courage traits that shine through her story of determination and service. She is widely celebrated as “an inspirational speaker and a role model to many”, with a career marked by perseverance and bravery, using her platform to promote science and exploration. She broke barriers, defied stereotypes, and became the first Briton in space. To this day, she continues to inspire future generations of scientists and engineers.

Her achievements are part of a proud tradition of women leading technological innovation. Ada Lovelace wrote the first computer algorithm; Grace Hopper developed the first compiler for a programming language. During the Second World War, programming and codebreaking at institutions such as Harvard’s “Harvard Computers” and Bletchley Park were predominantly carried out by women. These pioneers recorded celestial data with precision and designed groundbreaking software long before modern computers existed.

Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, women have continued to push boundaries. Figures such as Katherine Johnson and Dorothy Vaughan at NASA calculated vital flight trajectories, and today, women lead major technology firms around the world. Each of these leaders builds on a legacy that stretches from Ada Lovelace through Grace Hopper and beyond. In every era, despite the challenges, women have driven innovation and creativity in technology.

We see that same pioneering spirit in our work at Codiance. Our mission is to transform businesses with bespoke, people-centric software, mirroring how trailblazers like Sharman tackled challenges with ingenuity and care. We design and build customised software that addresses real-world business problems, from tailored platforms to complex system integrations. Every solution is engineered with precision, grounded in deep technical expertise, and shaped around our clients’ users. In other words, we build the best people-centric systems for businesses and their customers.

Our team shares the same curiosity that propelled Sharman and the early programmers. We recruit people who are naturally inquisitive and encourage them to ask our clients plenty of “whys” and “hows” to deeply understand the root problem, not just the immediate task. In practice, we often become our clients’ technical partner, an extension of their team, collaborating closely to deliver effective solutions.

Excellence comes through a collaborative approach and a passion for innovative, high-quality software engineering.

Helen Sharman

At Codiance, leadership and inclusion go hand in hand. We know that diverse perspectives make technology stronger. That’s why we celebrate stories like Annie Easley’s and Helen Sharman’s. Every day, we carry forward the torch of innovation. We hire and mentor people regardless of gender or background, and our collaborative teams reflect a range of experiences. Our leaders, from engineers to directors, prioritise mentoring, learning, and growth. We don’t just build technology; we foster a community that values inclusivity and continuous innovation.

On Helen Sharman’s birthday, we are proud to honour her legacy and that of women everywhere who have advanced our industry. Her journey, fuelled by curiosity, courage, and excellence, resonates deeply with our mission and values. As she showed, nothing is beyond reach when passion is paired with collaboration. We are proud to carry that pioneering spirit forward, partnering with clients to tackle complex challenges and creating software solutions that work for everyone.