A plan to get more young specialists into central government is part of a broader effort to boost cyber skills
The Civil Service is aiming to lure more young employees into the field of cyber security as part of the government's effort to promote an all round increase of skills in the sector.
Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude has announced two measures aimed at upgrading the skills base in central government.
One involves introducing a new cyber strand into the Civil Service fast track apprenticeship scheme, based on the Tech Partnership frameworks for cyber security apprenticeships. This should involve the creation of more than 250 new entry level jobs for school leavers.
Secondly, cyber security has been made a skills discipline in the revised Civil Service Digital & Technology Fast Stream, with graduate participants being able to specialise in the field in their third year. The intake for the fast stream will increase this year to between 70-80.
The broader programme also includes:
- Introducing cyber specialist apprenticeships with the Tech Partnership;
- Making cyber security an integral feature of all computing and digital further education qualifications from September 2016; Running education programmes with schools and further education colleges to highlight career opportunities;
- Making cyber security a mandatory element of all undergraduate courses accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology;
- Adding a cyber security option to the National Citizen Service for young people.
Maude said: "The UK has a vibrant cyber security sector which we want to help grow. As part of this government's long term economic plan we want the UK to be one of the safest places to do business online. We need a supply of cyber security experts for the future so we are taking a series of further steps to attract the most gifted young people to this fast-moving area of technology."
Image: Harland Quarrington/MoD, Open Government Licence v1.0 through Wikimedia
