cyberfirst girls final
A tech company run by Blackburn Entrepreneur has been appointed as the Northwest delivery partner for a pilot of CyberFirst Schools run by GCHQ’s National Cyber Security Center (NCSC).
Mo Isap, who runs innovation hub HOST, Home of Skills and Technology in MediaCity, will help champion cyber education in the region’s North West Cyber Corridor.
Through its flagship Skills City operation, HOST will provide CyberFirst School Pilots over a period of one year to over 500 schools and colleges in the North West to inspire more youth to seek careers in cyber security.
The collaboration will further enhance fair access to technology careers, particularly for disadvantaged backgrounds and under-represented groups, including girls and young women, where representation in the sector remains low, with only the share of women in the UK cyber workforce is 22 percent.
The CyberFirst Schools initiative recognizes schools and colleges across the UK that are committed to encouraging youth to develop cyber skills, with NCSC awarding them Gold, Silver or Bronze status.
Since the initiative’s launch in 2020, 49 CyberFirst schools and colleges have been accredited, helping to develop a nationwide cyber skills ecosystem and bridging the industry’s cyber skills gap.
The final of the 2022 CyberFirst Girls Competition was also held at HOST in Salford and focused on inspiring girls aged 12 to 13 to consider pursuing a career in cyber security.
The HOST, operated by Preston-based IN4 Group, which is spearheaded by Mr. Isap, will draw on its extensive local and national employer network to help facilitate engagement between industry and schools in the region.
This will enable more young people to access opportunities such as mentorship and work experience outside the classroom and in the growing technology sector.
It will work with leading industry and regional academic partners, including BAE Systems, Raytheon, Siemens, AWS, the University of Central Lancashire and the University of Salford, to further invest in schools and future-proof technology talent.
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Mo Isap, CEO of the IN4 Group, said: “Due to the birth and birth of Blackburn, it is wonderful to see these great possibilities for Lancashire as well as for Greater Manchester, and we now have the CyberFirst program to empower future generations into technology careers. A great opportunity to inspire.
“This will have a huge impact on young people across the region, who are currently living in places like Salford, Accrington and Blackpool.
“Bringing together education, skills, technology and industry is the key to creating prosperity in the region.
“With the UK Government investing more than £5 billion in its new National Cyber Force in Samlesbury, Lancashire, the region is leading the way for further innovation and skilling as part of the emerging North West Cyber Corridor. “
The contract follows the successful delivery of HOST of three visits to GCHQ’s Innovation Co-Lab – a program aimed at finding innovative start-ups and small to medium-sized businesses in the North West.
Successful companies participate in a 12-week program to work with GCHQ technologists and industry experts to improve their products.
HOST also organized the first North West Cyber Summit in March to support the creation of the Cyber Corridor.
Chris Enser, NCSC’s Deputy Director for Cyber Growth, said: “NCSC is committed to providing youth with opportunities to excel in cyber security, and our work with industry plays a key role in this.
“We are delighted that HOST will spearhead our CyberFirst Schools initiative in the North West on our behalf and welcome their support in developing the region’s cyber skills ecosystem.”
The CyberFirst program offers a range of freebies with the aim of providing youth with the skills, opportunities and exposure they need to thrive in cyber security.
More information about CyberFirst opportunities in North West can be found on the HOST website.
