The national strategy to upgrade skills across the UK will fail unless cyber education is addressed as a priority, says EMCSC director Dr Ismini Vasileiou.

Dr Ismini Vasileiou, who is also associate professor at De Montfort University (DMU), said major areas of industry were vulnerable to large-scale cyberattacks.

In an article published in the Leicester Mercury, she referenced recent attacks on stores including M&S and Co-op, warning that such incidents are linked to the uncoordinated approach to cyber skills training across the UK.

The risk of further serious disruption and financial loss through such attacks will only increase unless the Government overhauls the way in which cyber skills are taught, Dr Vasileiou said.

Need for skills development

The cyber expert said a recent letter from Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson to Skills England, setting out the government’s priorities for skills development in the year ahead, did not put enough emphasis on improving the level of cyber training.

“The new Skills England body has been tasked with aligning training and workforce supply to economic needs – and cyber sits at the heart of this agenda,” said Dr Vasileiou.

“Every sector identified by Skills England – from advanced manufacturing to health, from energy to transport –- is increasingly dependent on digital infrastructure and resilient cyber capabilities.

“Without a coordinated, skillsbased approach to cyber workforce development, none of these sectors can achieve sustainable growth or operational security.”

Cyber skills training

Working with key figures from Skills England, the UK Cyber Security Council and National Cyber Security Centre, Dr Vasileiou has written a white paper detailing key steps the Government should take to improve the widespread delivery of capable cyber skills training.

It identifies a lack of cyber security education from schools to higher education, along with insufficient support for employers to take advantage of apprenticeships and train staff in cyber skills.

There are also training gaps which fail to equip workers with the ability to deal with AI and an overwhelming number of smaller businesses with almost no in-house cyber security skills, the paper said.

Proposals include regional delivery models that allow for sector-specific implementation and workforce reform to address skills gaps.

Dr Vasileiou said: “Cyber is not a standalone priority, it’s a cross-sector enabler.

“If Skills England is serious about delivery, investment in cyber training must be treated as foundational.”