Addressing the cyber skills deficit by investing in young people

Addressing the cyber skills deficit by investing in young people

As someone who has recently completed a cyber apprenticeship, and obtained a first-class honours degree as a result, I can demonstrate first-hand the benefits of supporting young people in their cybersecurity careers and have set out advice to individuals or business on offering entry-level cybersecurity roles.

Across UK businesses, there is a recognised deficit in cybersecurity skills. The UK Government’s Cyber Security skills in the UK labour market 2022 report highlights the challenges that business face, with 51% of businesses having a basic skills gap in cyber specialisms. A key challenge organisations face is the high cost of recruiting and retaining skilled cybersecurity professionals.

One of the ways business can address this is through supporting and investing in young people. The ever-changing landscape of cyber threats offers lifelong learning opportunities and there are numerous routes to developing our future leaders.

Cybersecurity is deeply dependent on innovation and fresh thinking, and a lot can be gained from the minds and skills of young people. These individuals have grown up learning technology and using the internet as an accessible tool to be their own researchers and teachers. Through this, we have a generation of curious and creative individuals capable of investigating and picking up skills quickly and adapting to changing situations. Perfect for the vast world of cybersecurity.

It is important that we harness the skills of young people and support their development.  

My journey in cybersecurity started when I left secondary school. I completed various cyber apprenticeships and training courses, including an IT modern apprenticeship and a higher cyber apprenticeship. In 2018, I saw the perfect opportunity for me with Azets as a cybersecurity graduate apprentice. After four years of hard work, I recently completed my degree, achieving a first class honours and the university medal for academic performance, all whilst working for the Technology Risk team at Azets. It has been a really challenging yet rewarding 4 years. I’ve had the benefit of gaining valuable practice experience through my day-to-day work and, at the same time, achieved my academic goals - the main reason I chose the graduate apprenticeship route.

My advice to business is to invest in young people. Businesses should research the different route to create, support and develop cybersecurity career paths. There are multiple options at modern, higher and graduate apprentice levels, sponsored graduate schemes, mentoring programmes, and professional qualifications. Each route involves different methods of study and hours of work required. Young people and business should clearly understand what is required of them to achieve the optimal balance of learning whilst working.

A word from the Azets Technology Risk team:

“Emily was the first member of our team to join us a cybersecurity graduate apprentice. Over the past four years, Emily studied one day each week at Edinburgh Napier University and worked with us the remaining four days.  The course is challenging, as it is the equivalent of a full-time honours degree, adapted to fit in to one day a week by giving credits toward experience gained through work. Emily has achieved excellent results in her studies and our clients benefit from a rich mix of formal study and work-based learning. We are really proud of what Emily has achieved and her first class result was richly deserved.”

Our apprenticeship recruitment

At Azets, we plan to recruit more than 500 apprentices across our UK business in 2023. An apprenticeship with Azets provides a bespoke programme that combines qualifications, skills, and behaviours training. Everyone gets a talent coach, and each new student gets a buddy and substantial amount of on the job training, giving them the opportunity to pave a career path for life.

The school leaver route at Azets is a six-year programme which includes two apprenticeship programmes leading to the student becoming qualified in their AAT and then moving onto their chartered accountancy qualification.

The graduate route is a three- or four-year programme where students study toward their chartered accountancy qualification.

All current early careers opportunities can be found here.