UTC Reading, UTC Oxfordshire and UTC Swindon join new national cyber security group to prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow

Students from across three UTCs within the Activate Learning Education Trust (ALET) are being equipped with the right cyber security skills when they start employment, or move on to higher education, following the launch of the Cyber Security Group today.

Working with cyber UTCs across the country, along with the help of leading edge security and private sector organisations, the group looks to bridge the security resource and skills gap that businesses face, to help better protect today’s society from cyber threats. The group aims to equip a minimum of 500 students a year with the right cyber skills to prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow.

At the launch, there will be 23 organisations and UTCs up and down the country who will form the group. These include Fujitsu, Computacenter, IBM, Symantec and PwC, as well as three of the ALET UTCs: UTC Reading, UTC Oxfordshire and UTC Swindon. Those involved will have the opportunity to sponsor their local UTC, meaning they can get to know the students personally, potentially offering them a job at the end of the tenure or offering further sponsorship to allow students to go on to higher education.

Rob Norris, Vice President of Enterprise and Cyber Security, Fujitsu said:

“In a world of connected devices, and increasingly AI and machine learning, the security landscape is seeing exponential growth with attack techniques and sectors changing at an alarming rate. In light of recent attacks it is especially important that we do more to help the next generation of students better understand the positive impact that cybersecurity knowledge can have on their lives and future careers.

“As we fast progress towards a ‘digital first’ nation, we need to ensure we are investing at the very beginning of the digital journey and developing the right skills to support the future digital economy.”

Rob Norris continues, “All organisations – private and public – are pivotal in closing the cybersecurity skills gap, ensuring our children are fully equipped for facing future inevitabilities. As this is something Fujitsu really recognises, the group will look to empower UTC students and teachers to develop the skills, knowledge and understanding of the role that cybersecurity plays in today’s business and society, preparing them to start their career in a digital world.”

Mike Halliday, Business Relations Manager for UTC Reading, UTC Swindon, and UTC Heathrow said:

“With cyber threats becoming more prolific and hackers increasingly more creative and savvy in their approach to attacks and breaches, the people and skills available to protect organisations and society must respond.

While UTCs are attracting more and more ‘academic’ students, our real strength is in offering a learning journey that allows students to experience a practical education that prepares them for the world of work. Historically students may not have considered entering a cybersecurity profession, often meaning they missed out on a career that they could be good at, and one in which they’d find purpose and fulfilment.”

“The UTC Cyber Group looks to connect industry to an untapped source of thinking in order to meet the current cybersecurity challenges. There will be a particular focus on supporting students who could provide real value to an organisation due to their natural technical skill and ability. UTCs have the advantage of focusing on technical skills development, and are a real alternative for those that wish to learn hands-on, which makes a cyber UTC the ideal environment to nurture and accelerate cyber talent with the support of our industry partners.”

As part of the commitment, the group will meet every quarter to agree the course content that will be delivered to cyber security students. What’s more, each organisation will commit a minimum of five days of teaching and training to UTCs annually over the next three years, ensuring that today’s Cyber students are well versed on today’s threat landscape and the tools and techniques being used.