At a recent Cyber Security Challenge Face to Face (F2F) competition, Enterprise Times (ET) spoke with Rae McClelland and Steph Aldridge. McClelland is the Programme Manager for Universities and Further Education. Aldridge is Education Liaison and Diversity Lead. Together they make a formidable partnership focused on driving access to cybersecurity to a new generation and ensuring that the scope of those involved is as wide as possible.
The Cyber Security Challenge has been successfully working with schools and universities for the last four years. In that time it has seen good engagement from grammar and private schools but less so from state schools. It has also extended its remit and approached other youth organisations such as Guides, Scouts and Cadet Forces.
Another challenge that the Cyber Security Challenge is dealing with is the need to widen the diversity of the industry. Both Aldridge and McClelland talk about the need for vocational training and apprenticeships to support and enhance the university degree programmes. They also recognise that we have people who are excluded from the current cyber security industry. This is where the Cyber Security Challenge is trying to make a difference, especially around those excluded for social and economic reasons.
This is a long podcast but one where the passion of both Aldridge and McClelland is evident. To hear what else they had to say, listen to the podcast
Where can I get it?
obtain it, for Android devices from play.google.com/music/podcasts
use the Enterprise Times page on Stitcher
use the Enterprise Times page on Podchaser
listen to the Enterprise Times channel on Soundcloud
listen to the podcast (below) or download the podcast to your local device and then listen there
This sounds an exciting project for what is such a rapidly developing field of expertise. The diversity of career paths for young people now is wide-ranging and I would encourage providing these opportunities in schools and through youth organisations.