Cyber skills for apprentices and ESOL learners

This project will deliver specialised cybersecurity training to apprentices and ESOL learners in Lancashire, addressing the skills gap and improving employability. We will utilise a state-of-the-art cybersecurity lab, providing hands-on, immersive training. The project promotes inclusivity by targeting underrepresented groups, enhancing diversity in the tech sector.

It supports local businesses by upskilling their workforce, making them more resilient to cyber threats. The initiative aligns with the UK's National Cyber Strategy 2022 and evolving GDPR regulations, ensuring the local workforce is prepared for future compliance standards.

Our project focuses on two key areas: providing specialised training to apprentices and ESOL learners, with a goal of enhancing their employability through cybersecurity skills. Given that end users often represent the greatest cybersecurity risk, our initiative aims to upskill first-year apprentices across all six sectors where we offer apprenticeships.

Recognising a growing interest from ESOL learners to improve their job prospects, we propose a tailored cybersecurity course to address their skills gaps. As Lancashire's cyber sector expands, equipping these learners with vital cyber skills will significantly boost their employability, helping bridge regional skills gaps across the country.

Our teaching methodology includes blended learning, combining online learning with in-person sessions delivered in a state-of-the-art Secure Operations Centre. This facility will have its own dedicated, off-grid network, aligned with the National Cyber Force centre, which is set to open in 2025\. Learners will examine actual cybersecurity incidents, enabling them to apply theoretical knowledge to practical situations.

We will feature guest lecturers from individuals in the cybersecurity sector, providing learners with valuable industry insights. The course is inclusively designed to ensure effective learning for diverse groups, including ESOL learners, accounting for their language and cultural backgrounds.

We need additional capacity to deliver these courses in an interactive and simulation-based format. To address this, we are poised to transform an existing space into an advanced cybersecurity facility. This new centre will significantly enhance the learning experience, offering students more opportunities for an immersive experience, making the learning more engaging and effective.

The key outcomes of this project will be improved cybersecurity knowledge among both apprentices and ESOL learners, directly leading to greater employability. Learners will be assessed at the end of the course, with structured delivery milestones throughout to ensure their progress and readiness for the next stage. By providing these vital skills, we are empowering local communities and addressing critical skills shortages in the cybersecurity field.