UK government announces £1.9m funding to improve cyber skills and bolster defences

• More than 30 projects will receive funding to provide targeted support, including training to improve cyber skills and new ways to protect businesses from cyber threats.

• Based in England and Northern Ireland, these schemes will help protect the security of the UK’s digital economy and increase the flow of cyber talent.

• Students will test their mettle in the final round of the Cyber ​​Explorers competition to encourage the UK’s brightest young minds to pursue careers in the field.

More than 30 projects throughout England and Northern Ireland We look forward to providing targeted support to improve the UK’s cyber resilience – from new ways to better protect businesses and families from potential cyber attacks to skills development to improve the nation’s cyber skills.

The new projects announced today (January 8) will receive a share of £1.9 million in UK public and private funding to strengthen the UK’s cyber defenses and ensure the country has the cyber workforce it needs as the threat of attacks grows. benefit.

The UK cyber sector, according to the government, is a real success story, contributing The British economy will receive £11.9 billion. However, the growing number of threats we face online means that the demand for trained cyber professionals continues to grow, with almost half of UK businesses now reporting a cyber skills shortage. These projects will now help fill the gaps and meet this demand, providing people across the country with the skills needed to explore new, high-paying careers in cyberspace to ensure broader technology security and digital services across the economy.

First announced on global cybersecurity meeting Convened by the UK in September, these projects, delivered by organizations such as universities, local community groups and businesses, will use local know-how and partnerships to support initiatives that meet the needs of individual regions. closing skills gaps to help keep the UK safe online by providing training to a wide range of groups, including everyone from secondary school students and apprentices to working professionals.

Projects being supported include programs in the South West and Yorkshire to upskill small business workers, and a scheme in the North West of England that will open up new opportunities for communities looking to build careers in cyberspace.

Meanwhile, a project in Northern Ireland will explore ways to encourage more neurodiverse workers into this area – increasing the diversity of the UK’s cyber talent pool. And the program in the West Midlands will focus on supporting women and girls to protect them from cyber violence and abuse.

Cyber ​​Security Minister Feryal Clarke says:

“We spend an increasing proportion of our lives online – whether it’s doing our weekly shopping, banking, surfing the web to book a holiday or simply keeping in touch with our loved ones.

“But our growing digital economy also brings billions to the economy. That’s why having strong defenses is more important than ever – and as part of our Change Plan to grow our economy, we need to protect them too.

“Attempts to disrupt the technologies and services we rely on every day continue to grow, so we are working hard to make sure our communities have the skills to meet this challenge.

“It’s also vital that we develop a diverse and talented cybersecurity workforce, so the next round of the Cyber ​​Explorers Cup competition will be vital in identifying the UK’s cyber leaders of tomorrow.”

However, Andy Case, CEO of Cardiff-based cybersecurity company Socura, has reservations about the size of the investment compared to the ambitions of the project:

“All businesses need cybersecurity skills, so we need to ensure that security talent is more evenly distributed across the country, not just concentrated in the south.

“My biggest reservation about this news is the size of the investment compared to the scale of their ambitions. With 30 new projects planned for 2025 and beyond across several regions, this money will be spread thinly across the UK. The concern is that this money will not go far enough to have the level of impact needed. However, this is a good start.”

Read full list of Cyber ​​Local projects are delivered.