According to the government, 3,600 people in the UK this year are looking to gain cybersecurity skills and knowledge in a bid to land a role in cyber through the Upskill in Cyber programme.

Further, almost half of applications were submitted by women, and more than half of total applications have come from people outside London and the South East.

The initiative is aimed at UK-based adults over the age of 18 who have no prior professional experience in cybersecurity, and are able to commit to the remote, virtually-delivered 14-week programme.

Upskill in Cyber is a part of the UK Government’s £2.6 billion National Cyber Strategy, which aims to ensure that the UK adapts, innovates, and invests in the UK’s cyber efforts, a key part of which includes building a larger cyber-focused workforce.

“The UK’s cyber sector is growing exponentially,” said Minister for AI and Intellectual Property, Viscount Camrose.

“In just 12 months we’ve seen our 58,000 strong workforce jump by 10%, and ensuring we can maintain a steady supply of diverse, highly-skilled professionals is vital to meet the needs of our growing digital economy.

“It’s encouraging to see record numbers from a wide range of backgrounds and communities coming forward for this year’s Upskill in Cyber Programme. However, this is ultimately just one piece of the puzzle.

“We must continue our work with industry and education to improve tech skills across the economy, and we are continuing to invest in the potential of our brightest minds at all levels to unlock opportunity for people right across the country.”

Last year’s Cyber security skills in the UK labour market report highlighted the country’s prescient cyber skills gaps: 51% of businesses — approximately 697,000 — have a basic cyber skills gap, i.e. the people in charge of cybersecurity in those businesses lack the confidence to carry out the kinds of basic tasks laid out in the government-endorsed Cyber Essentials scheme.

In a bid to help bridge the cyber skills gap, the UK Government has launched a collection of education-focused initiatives, of which the Upskill in Cyber programme is a part.

For instance, in addition to Upskill in Cyber is the Cyber Explorers programme, which is geared towards 11 to 14-year-olds and teaches them essential cyber skills through a free online learning platform.

Additionally, there’s the National Cyber Security Centre’s CyberFirst, which is again aimed at young people, helping them to become interested and grow into cybersecurity careers.

Recommended

• How MadeBrave is Fostering Creativity in a Post-Pandemic Workforce
• RGU Partners with Major Energy Firms for AI Subsea Initiative
• Does The Online Safety Bill Pose a Threat to Encrypted Messaging Privacy?

However, as Viscount Camrose mentioned, getting people into the cyber industry is but one piece of the intricated puzzle to bridge the cyber skills gap in the longer term.

When it comes to women’s place in tech especially, systemic barriers are still impacting their ability to enter the workforce in the first place, as well as their retention and career progression.

According to a new collaborative report from Code First Girls and Tech Talent Charter, and on the question of “Why do women’s careers progress slower than men’s?,” 63% of respondents point to the issue of stereotyping, while 53% say maternity leave, 39% say family-life balance, and 38% say double-standards.