The Cyber and Fraud Centre – Scotland has joined forces with Fortinet and Accenture in support of the Scottish cyber charity’s See It, Be It campaign, focused on inspiring more women and girls to consider careers in cybersecurity.

The two firms will join the Cyber and Fraud Centre – Scotland as strategic partners, with both bringing strong credentials in promoting diversity in the tech sector, and will work with the Centre to deliver events, mentorship and career exploration activities aimed at bridging the gender gap in cyber roles. 

According to the Centre, their support will allow the campaign to extend its reach and create more visible role models for young women across Scotland, saying that addressing this imbalance is vital in building a resilient, inclusive digital economy.

“I am delighted that Accenture and Fortinet have come on board to help us in our mission around getting more girls and women into cybersecurity,” said Jude McCorry, CEO of the Cyber and Fraud Centre – Scotland.

“There is lots of talk in Scotland around getting more women and girls involved in the sector, but we need action. With the support of these organisations, we won’t just talk the talk, but we’ll walk the walk.”

Scotland faces a critical gap in its cyber sector diversity, with just 264 female students taking a National Progression Award (NPA) in Cyber Security over 2022/23, compared to 1,521 males, while women currently make up only 17% of the wider UK cybersecurity workforce.  

However, according to a recent blog post by McCorry outlining the issue, one of the main challenges isn’t simply getting more women interested in cybersecurity, it’s keeping them in the field.

McCorry said that women faced a ‘disjointed path’ in the industry, with limited mentorship, a lack of career guidance, and fewer industry connections to help them take the leap from education into employment.

The lack of diversity in cyber is one key element of the growing skills gap the country is now facing, with studies suggesting that as many as 87% of UK organisations lack the necessary cyber skills.

Recommended reading

• ISC2 Report Reveals New Cyber Hiring Trends for 2025
• The State of Penetration Testing in 2025 | What You Need to Know
• WEF Cybersecurity Outlook 2025 | What You Need to Know

With this partnership, the Centre will work to help address the shortage of cybersecurity skills in Scotland, creating the tech talent to fill these critical roles.

“As the skills gap widens and employers worldwide struggle to fill roles with the necessary professionals, attracting new talent to the field has never been more vital,” said David McKeand, Fortinet’s Regional Manager for Scotland.

“This local partnership is part of Fortinet’s global commitment to addressing the shortage of cybersecurity skills, and I am delighted to support it and inspire young girls to develop an interest in pursuing a career in this ever-evolving yet fascinating tech field.”