As students prepare to go back to school this September, schools are being encouraged to take advantage of free resources to boost cyber skills and set up aspiring young people to aim for careers in cyber.

More than 500,000 students from 2,000 schools across the country have already been signed up to Cyber Explorers, a free learning platform provided by the UK government that introduces 11-14 year-olds to important cyber security concepts, supporting learning objectives for Key Stage 2 and 3.

Commenting on the announcement, Chris Ensor, NCSC deputy director for cyber growth, said: “The UK’s cyber industry is growing rapidly, but it’s facing a skills shortage as a result – which is why it’s so important to have initiatives such as Cyber Explorers which work to uncover cyber talent and support young people across the country in exploring the career opportunities this thriving industry has to offer.”

Students can explore a variety of engaging and challenging cyber scenarios, collect virtual badges, and learn tips and tricks from the Cyber Ranger and experts in the Cyber Squad.

Through interactive quizzes and activities, children will be able to learn how digital, computing, and cyber skills can help them navigate the online world and unlock exciting new careers paths, ranging from social media content creation to medical research, and sports technology to AI innovation.

In order to take part in the initiative, all teachers, parents, and guardians of home-schooled students have to do is register their students to access free lesson plans, resources, and guides for wider educational support.

Schools taking part in Cyber Explorers have also played host to a number of career-focused sessions for students, with visits from the likes of Amazon and Verizon showcasing to students some of the practical applications of cyber skills.

Responding to the news Achi Lewis, area VP EMEA for Absolute Software commented: “It is brilliant to see government and the education sector working together to deliver essential cybersecurity training to usher in the new wave of cyber professionals. Cyber Explorers offers students a head start in cyber training, keeping them up to date with the latest trends and innovations impacting organisations.

“In an industry where the complexity of threats continues to rise, it is more important than ever to encourage people into cyber to help protect organisations from prevailing attacks.”

According to a 2022 government report, around half (51%) of all private UK businesses suffer from a basic cyber skills gap.

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The number of cyber security job postings rose by 30% to 160,000, although the UK cyber workforce is facing a shortfall of around 11,200.

Further, women make up only 17% of employees in this sector, while senior roles are typically not representative of gender or ethnic diversity across the wider stage.

The government says this new initiative is an investment in the next generation of cyber professionals and security experts, helping young people develop the skills and knowledge prized by a UK cyber sector worth £10.5 billion.

Cyber minister Viscount Camrose said: “The UK’s growing cyber sector is where the technological innovations and digital discoveries of the future will start. That’s why we’re focused on breaking down the barriers to entry, and creating new opportunities for young people to gain the skills and knowledge that could kick-start exciting careers in cyber.”