The course is a component of the nationwide Click Start training program, developed by the Institute of Coding and funded by Nominet. The programme was devised from a partnership between SaluteMyJob, Abertay University, and the Scottish Cyber and Fraud Centre.

Its goal is to tap into the suite of skills an ex-military personnel brings to the table in the cyber industry. Soft skills such as sharp decision-making, security-oriented mindsets, risk and crisis management experience are highly sought after in a cyber-setting.

All that needs to be learned is commercial and practical experience, after which this talent pool would be highly capable with a cyber role.

“Many of the skills attained or honed in the military are transferable into the cybersecurity arena, the use of standard procedures and methodologies used is akin to the military drills that we are all used to,” said Joe Coulter, a retired Warrant Officer Class 2 currently taking a Pen Testing pathway course.

He added: “The cybersecurity environment fits well with the military environment. I believe that a veteran would fit in well and quickly into a cybersecurity environment.”

All of this work is to address the cyber sector’s yearly 14,100-person large workforce gap in the UK every year. According to the Open University, 86% of large organisations and  68% of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are facing skills shortages in total. 

This is due chiefly to talent not possessing business-critical digital skills right out of school. However, more than half of the organisations in the survey said they would increase upskilling for their staff, and 57% agreed that work-based learning is critical to long-term success. 

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This means companies are recognising the answer to addressing the skills gap is through upskilling and reskilling capable workers, instead of buying workers with skills on a needs basis. 

“We need the help of companies, large and small, to provide these placement opportunities for the Pathways graduates and help them overcome this substantial obstacle, on their way to an exciting new career filled with possibilities,’ said Andrew Jackson SaluteMyJob MD. “We provide the skills if you can provide paid work placements to fill the experience gap.”

There are currently over 50 members of the Armed Forces community currently participating in a pentesting course set to graduate this month, with more waiting to join future courses.