Published on 12 January 2021
NEW CAREERS CAMPAIGN VIDEO FROM THE GOLDEN VALLEY DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS DIVERSITY IN CYBER SECTOR
Young people can enjoy long and successful careers in the cyber industry – one of the fastest-growing sectors on the planet – regardless of background or gender.
That’s the key message in a new video featuring leading lights from Cheltenham’s cyber community showcasing the sector’s wealth of opportunities available to young people.
The video has been produced by the team behind The Golden Valley Development, a unique project underpinning Cheltenham’s efforts to be the UK’s cyber capital, led by Cheltenham Borough Council.
Organisations including GFirst LEP, Gloucestershire College, CyNam and NCSC are all collaborating to create greater than ever access for young people seeking the skills required for a career in cyber and digital in Cheltenham. What’s more, significant steps are being taken to ensure all opportunities are fully inclusive and embrace diversity.
Featured in the careers video is award-winning Cheltenham-based cyber blog “Security Queens” which was formed by three young women working in the digital technology industry.
Sarah Kingham of Security Queens, which recently won “Best New and Up and Coming Blog” at the European Cyber Security Blogger Awards, says: “Cheltenham is such an exciting place to be right now, and the cyber industry in particular is far more diverse than people might think.
“Tech, cyber and digital have a stereotypical image of being dominated by men but that really isn’t the case anymore and I would strongly encourage young women to seriously consider these industries for their careers.”
Another of the young people featured in the video is Jay Dare who, following an apprenticeship, is now employed as a technical consultant at Cheltenham-based computer networking firm Infrastar. He says: “Our entire lives are shaped around the internet and using devices. I think in the past a lot of young people were getting overlooked because they might have lacked experience or wisdom in a certain field, but now it is normal to see younger people in high positions.”
Councillor Victoria Atherstone, Cheltenham Borough Council’s Cabinet Member Economy and Development, also features in the new careers video. She said: “Make no mistake, Cheltenham is booming and cyber is at the heart of that.
“So many exciting projects and schemes are not just planned for the future, they are happening right now as we talk, such as the Golden Valley Development which underpins our ambitions to drive skills and careers for generations to come.”
She added: “This is a hugely exciting time for our town. The scope of engagement with young people and the wealth of opportunities this will create for them is, I believe, unparalleled at a time when many towns and cities are struggling.”
To see the full video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxV__K--Vlw&feature=youtu.be
For more information go to www.goldenvalleyuk.com
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Notes for editors:
The Golden Valley Development underpins Cheltenham and Gloucestershire’s ambition to be the cyber capital of the UK.
The project presents a unique opportunity to create an internationally significant cyber-tech campus that will lead the way in the UK’s mission to be the safest place to do online business and a world leader in cyber security.
The Golden Valley site is adjacent to GCHQ in Cheltenham where up to 200-hectares of land will be transformed into world-class, multi-purpose development with the UK’s first cyber focused campus, Cyber Central, at its heart.
It will deliver a substantial, accessible site with far-reaching benefits not just for Cheltenham and Gloucestershire, but for the region and beyond. It will create new and diverse employment opportunities, improve sustainable transport infrastructure and drive forward housing growth.
Building on Cheltenham’s international reputation for leadership in cyber security, Cyber Central will be unique in bringing together key strands of expertise and insight to create an unprecedented fusion of talent and opportunity:
- Hotbed of ideas – at its heart the development will be a free-thinking, innovative space populated by pioneering organisations and trailblazing individuals
- An attractor for world class businesses – which in turn will supercharge growth and innovation throughout the region
- Meeting of minds – an opportunity for academia to plug directly into the innovation hub we are creating
- Boost for economic growth – a thriving cyber eco-system like no other where enterprises can grow
- Start-ups – unmatched opportunities to work side by side with some of the biggest names in digital technology, together with leading universities in the region.
Cyber Central will be the commercial and innovative heart of the wider Golden Valley Garden Community with up to 3,700 homes creating a community supported by shops, cafes, restaurants and leisure facilities.
Cheltenham is already established as being one of the top ten places to be in the UK and this development will significantly enhance the town’s appeal as a destination for living and working.