Lancashire inspires next generation of cyber specialists with activities

School pupils and students from across Lancashire experienced what a high-tech career in the cyber industry could look like as part of a week-long cyber skills takeover involving more than 200 Lancashire schools, colleges and universities.

Part of the 2025 Lancashire Cyber Festival, and organised by the Lancashire Cyber Partnership, the cyber education week stretched from 2nd – 7th February.

The week saw over 12,000 children and young people - from primary school pupils thorough to university undergraduates – taking part in cyber related activities and learning about future job opportunities set to be created by the county’s cyber sector.

 Activities were programmed to showcase the vast range of different careers which Lancashire’s cyber economy has to offer, including some of the high-skilled jobs which will be generated directly and indirectly by the National Cyber Force (NCF) HQ coming to Samlesbury.

The Commander of the NCF, Air Vice-Marshal Tim Neal-Hopes, visited the county and met with school children, students, teachers and careers advisors who had been involved in the project.

He also addressed thousands of Lancashire students through a speech which was live-streamed to all the county’s FE and sixth-form colleges.

He used the opportunity to outline his vision for Lancashire’s growing cyber sector, and the NCF’s catalytic role in that process.

He shared with the students details of his own professional journey, recounting how from a very young age he knew he wanted to work with computers.

This led to him spending over forty years working across different digital, cyber and technological roles within the Armed Forces.

The Commander further highlighted the wide range of different disciplines – such as languages, psychology, law and engineering - which could all lead to job within Lancashire’s cyber economy, and concluded by saying that a great cyber career was in everyone’s reach.  

A wide range of engaging, multi-format activities saw participation from a range of learners across the week.

The county’s Further Education (FE) and sixth-form colleges - including Runshaw College, Cardinal Newman College, Myerscough College, Preston College, Blackpool and Fylde College, Blackpool Sixth, Lancaster and Morecambe College, Blackburn College, Burnley College, Accrington and Rossendale College, and Nelson & Colne College, and West Lancashire College – came together to deliver interactive activities focused on cyber skills and STEM education to groups of visiting Year 9 and 10 pupils from local secondary schools.

All of Lancashire’s secondary schools also got the chance to take part in a special virtual cyber lesson, delivered by the TeenTech organisation.

Cohorts of 16-18 year olds visited one of Lancashire’s three universities (Edge Hill University, Lancaster University, and the University of Central Lancashire) to experience what studying a cyber-related subject would be like at degree level. In addition, teams of Lancashire university students got to take part in a countywide virtual ‘capture the flag’ contest run by the cyber consultancy, Punk Security.

Over 40 primary schools took part in cyber-themed online assemblies - created by the specialist tech education charity, TechSheCan. BAE Systems and STEMFirst ran a series of tactile and hands-on tech workshops for nine and ten year-olds at the University of Central Lancashire.

A technology discovery day specifically designed to encourage more girls to consider a career in cyber was hosted at Chorley Town Hall. The CyberFirst MEGA event, which was produced by the IN4.0 Group in support of the National Cyber Security Centre’s (NCSC) CyberFirst programme, saw hundreds of 12 and 13 year-old girls from schools across Lancashire getting to grips with the latest AI, VR and robotic technologies.

A spokesperson for the Lancashire Cyber Partnership, a strategic collaboration between Lancashire County Council, the University of Central Lancashire, Lancaster University, BAE Systems, and the NCF, said: “The Lancashire Cyber Partnership works to ensure all Lancashire residents feel the benefit of the county’s growing cyber economy.

"A vital part of that is giving people the chance to access education and training opportunities which can lead to a high-skilled and high-value career in the cyber sector, and related industries.

“Cyber education week is a great example of how we go about achieving that objective.

"It’s fantastic that so many young people from across Lancashire got to take part, and see what their own future in cyber could look like.”

Phillippa Williamson, leader of Lancashire County Council, said: “Lancashire’s cyber education week, which is part of the 2025 Lancashire Cyber Festival, has given thousands of young people at different stages of education the chance to experience the exciting skills and job opportunities which are offered by Lancashire’s growing cyber sector.

“To achieve this, the Lancashire Cyber Partnership worked closely with schools, colleges, universities, and many other providers, to create a dynamic programme of events which were directly related to the different cyber careers and study pathways available across Lancashire.

"It is great that we’ve seen learners of all ages, from all backgrounds, and from all parts of Lancashire, taking part in a diverse range of engaging activities which have been hands-on and inspiring, as well as educational.”  

 Lancashire’s cyber education week is one of a series of in-person and online events which make up the 2025 Lancashire Cyber Festival.

Other festival interventions later in year- including industry workshops, discussion panels, special seminars and networking sessions - will be focused on the wider skills, investment and business growth opportunities set to be unlocked by Lancashire’s growing cyber economy