Skills for Cyber-Security
Project overview
Lancashire’s colleges collaborated to provide a pan-Lancashire response, raising the awareness of cyber-security and other digital skills needs with local businesses, helping them to understand and articulate the skills requirements for their existing and future workforce and working with them to develop new courses and qualifications. Industry specialists were engaged to ensure that college staff have the up-to-date and technical knowledge they need to deliver and capital investment ensured that colleges have the specialist equipment required to provide industry-standard facilities.
Delivery partnership
Skills for Cyber-Security was led by Blackpool and The Fylde College working with Blackburn College, Burnley College, Cardinal Newman College, Lancaster and Morecambe College, Preston College and Runshaw College.
Project aims
We are developing new courses and pathways and the provision of enhanced careers information, advice and guidance has and continues to create a pipeline of new talent supporting recruitment both within the new National Cyber Force (NCF) and the broader sector and supply chain within Lancashire. We have also supported SMEs across different sectors to understand and respond to the need for better cyber-security knowledge and skills within their organisations and networks.
The colleges have created dedicated cyber-training centres with equipment specifications to meet those of the NCF; building on the CODE investment through our SDF Pilot. We are delivering training in the skills needed to monitor and detect potential security threats and to support secure and uninterrupted business operations through the implementation of cyber security mechanisms, procedures and controls. College students can learn new skills in real-world cyber security environments with clear progression pathways to programmes at Level 4 and 5 including through the emerging Lancashire and Cumbria Institute of Technology (IoT).
Results
By 2025 we will have consulted with 80 employers and delivered 700 hours of Industry Placements to staff, benefitting 900+ learners who will also have accessed industry-standard equipment. We will have developed 8 new short and very-short courses, responding to business need and also have worked with 600 school students, raising awareness of careers and pathways.