More than 30 projects across England and Northern Ireland will deliver targeted support to boost the UK’s cyber resilience – from new ways to better protect businesses and families from potential cyber-attacks to providing training to increase the nation’s cyber skills.
Plans to boost the UK’s cyber resilience come as the government drives forward its Plan for Change to grow the economy and ensure the UK’s digital security.
Announced today, the new projects will receive a share of £1.9m in UK government and private funding to bolster the UK’s cyber defences and ensure the country has the cyber workforce it needs as the threat of attacks rises.
Schemes in Northern Ireland, the Midlands, Yorkshire and Humber, the South West, North East and North West of England are set to benefit.
Closing the cyber skills gap
The UK’s cyber sector is a true success story, contributing £11.9bn to the British economy.
However, the increasing number of threats we face online means demand for trained cyber professionals is continuing to rise, with almost half of UK businesses currently reporting a cyber skills shortage.
Bolstering the UK’s cyber resilience through these projects will help plug the gaps and meet that demand. It will give people across the country the skills they need to explore new, highly-paid careers in cyber to ensure the wider security of technology and digital services across the economy.
First announced at a global cyber security meeting convened by the UK in September, these projects – delivered by organisations such as universities, local community groups and businesses – will tap into local know-how and partnerships to support initiatives which meet the needs of individual areas.
Furthermore, it will plug skills gaps to help keep the UK safe online by providing cyber resilience training for a wide range of groups, including everyone from secondary school students and apprentices to working professionals.
Which projects have been selected?
Among the projects being supported are programmes in the South West and Yorkshire to upskill workers in small businesses and a scheme in the North West of England which will unlock new avenues for communities to explore careers in cyber.
A project in Northern Ireland meanwhile will explore how to encourage more neurodiverse workers into the field – boosting the diversity of the UK’s cyber talent pipeline. While a programme in the West Midlands will focus on supporting women and girls to protect them from cyber violence and abuse.
Combined, these projects will help to deliver a stronger workforce, unlock new opportunities, and improve the UK’s cyber resilience, helping keep the digital economy safe and secure.
Minister for Cyber Security Feryal Clark said: “We live more and more of our lives online – whether that’s for our weekly shopping, banking, browsing the web to book a holiday, or simply staying in touch with our loved ones.
“However, attempts to disrupt the technologies and services we rely on daily continue to grow, so we’re leaving no stone unturned to make sure our communities have the skills to rise to the challenge.”
Job uptake is crucial for boosting the UK’s cyber resilience
Encouraging the UK’s brightest young minds to enter careers in the field is a vital part of building up the UK’s cyber resilience and delivering a strong cybersecurity workforce.
The Cyber Explorers Cup competition, launching its second round today, will fuel that drive and help meet the significant demand for cybersecurity workers in the UK for years to come.
Cyber Explorers is a free, interactive cybersecurity learning platform which has been rolled out to secondary schools across the UK.
It will see competitors from across the country taking part in a series of ‘capture the flag’ style cyber security challenges, solving cyber puzzles and boosting their cybersecurity knowledge.
The steps being taken today show how the government is delivering on its Plan for Change to kickstart 2025 – and as it prepares to introduce a new Cyber Security and Resilience Bill – ensuring the safety and security of our digital economy while unlocking new opportunities for people and communities across the country.
