EDITOR’S QUESTION
WHAT STRATEGIES
ARE COMPANIES
PUTTING IN PLACE
TO INVEST IN
CYBERSKILLS?
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B
usiness leaders are seemingly doing
more towards closing the skills gap as
the growing demand for cyberskills and
a more socially mobile and diverse workforce
increases. BAE Systems and the National
Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) hosted a
CyberFirst event in Manchester to showcase
cybersecurity careers to young people. Held at
Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum,
the event showed Year 8 and 9 students
and their families how studying technology
can improve creativity, problem solving and
analytical skills for future careers.
“
CYBERFIRST
EVENTS ARE
DESIGNED TO
ADDRESS A
CYBERSECURITY
SKILLS SHORTAGE
IN THE UK.
34
INTELLIGENTCIO
BAE Systems, Manchester Digital and the
NCSC ran a full day of activities and practical
sessions aimed at helping young people
from a wide variety of backgrounds to
explore their passion for tech by introducing
them to the world of cybersecurity.
CyberFirst events are designed to address
a cybersecurity skills shortage in the UK.
The intention is to encourage more young
people from as many cultural and social
backgrounds as possible to explore a career
in the computer science profession and put
in place a foundation for the future.
“Developing, nurturing and promoting
cyberskills is of vital importance to our
economy, society and development as a
nation – and it’s really important it isn’t
confined to just one place, social group, race
or gender,” said Victoria Knight, Strategic
Business Director at BAE Systems. “The
schoolchildren at CyberFirst showed us
how the right combination of enthusiasm,
readiness to learn and existing skills are
building a thriving future – both for them
and Greater Manchester.”
Chris Ensor, NCSC Deputy Director for Skills
and Growth, said: “It’s great to see so many
young people interested in learning more
about cybersecurity. We want to ensure
these bright, inquisitive minds maintain their
interest in cybersecurity in order to secure the
UK a significant talent pipeline for the sector.
“BAE Systems has done a fantastic job
in leading this event and we hope that it
has encouraged some of the young people
in attendance to keep up their interest in
the area.”
Students attended workshops throughout
the day, with individual breakout groups
focusing on everything from digital
forensics, cryptography language analysis to
understanding cybersecurity.
The CyberFirst initiative runs opportunities
to establish a career in cybersecurity, from
courses to bursaries and apprenticeships.
Each activity is designed to seek out
people with potential, offering the support,
skills, experience and exposure needed to
be the future first line of defence in our
CyberFirst world.
www.intelligentcio.com