Organisations across the IT, communications and defence sectors have teamed up with Business and IT Sector Skills Council (E-Skills UK) to launch cyber security apprenticeships.
The aim is to boost the number of young people working in information security, with currently only seven per cent of professionals in that sector being under the age of 29. The apprenticeships will be coordinated by the National Skills Academy for IT and will offer the opportunity for young people to earn a salary as they train for a career in cyber security.
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Developed with the aid of organisations including QinetiQ, BT, IBM, Cassidian, CREST and Atos, the first apprentices will start the programme later this year. The initiative is also receiving investment from the UK Commission for Employment and Skills.
Each employer involved in the scheme will advertise the cyber security apprenticeship vacancies using various outlets, including on the National Apprenticeship Service website, with individuals applying for the role as they would for a standard job. The normal requirements for individuals wishing to take part in a higher apprenticeship is 5 GCSEs at grades A* to C, including Maths and English, along with two A Levels, also grades Grades A* to C.
"I am delighted that E-Skills UK is working with a consortium of key employers to create the routes for young people to enter the exciting world of cyber security," said Karen Price CEO of E-Skills UK.
"These new apprenticeships will help tackle the skills shortage faced by this sector, including attracting more women, who are currently under-represented."
One of the firms supporting the cyber security apprenticeship scheme, BT, described how it hopes to attract new blood to the cyber security industry.
"There are currently few structured routes for young people to enter the cyber security work sector and we are pleased to be contributing to this opportunity to proactively grow new talent which is directly aligned to the needs of industry," said Bob Nowill, director of cyber and assurance at BT.
Earlier this month, E-Skills UK announced it has created over 300 jobs since October last year.
