The UK Cyber Security Council has backed the call for more to be done to address the cyber skills gap.

UKCSC has urged the sector to work together to tackle the cyber skills gap in response to the East Midlands Cyber Security Cluster’s (EMCSC’s) White Paper on the future of industry skills.

It has highlighted the importance of professional registration with professional titles, and aligning associated education pathways to industry-recognised roles.

And the Council welcomed the opportunity for government, regulators and industry to work together to achieve a more joined up approach towards tackling the skills gap and protecting UK citizens and businesses.

The Council is the self-regulatory body for the UK’s cyber security profession. It develops, promotes and stewards nationally-recognised standards for cyber security in support of the UK Government’s National Cyber Security Strategy. Its purpose is to make the UK the safest place to live and work online.

The White Paper – published by EMCSC in July and launched in Westminster this week with the support of the APPG for Cyber Innovation, UKC3, and De Montfort University Leicester – describes how Government intervention is urgently needed to build the inclusive and sustainable cyber workforce of the future.

Dr Vasileiou said: “The UK Cyber Security Council plays a central role in supporting the UK Government’s National Cyber Security Strategy – and therefore plays a central role in making the UK a safe place to live and work online.

“Creating that online cyber security requires development of more skilled people and standardisation of career pathways.

“As our White Paper describes, the rapidly changing digital environment risks leaving the UK exposed in terms of its skills pipeline – that’s why we are really pleased to be working with the Council to address this.”

Linda Ford, Interim CEO at the UK Cyber Security Council said: “The UK relies on access to a competent and trustworthy cyber security profession. 

“However, a lack of understanding and consistency around roles and routes into the sector can make building a career or finding the right practitioners challenging. This, plus ever-increasing demand, has created a cyber-skills gap.

“We’re pleased to be working with EMCSC and partners across the sector to turn up the volume, bring people together and address this skills gap. 

“From the creation of our Cyber Access Network to launching our entry-level Associate Cyber Security Professional Title, the Council is on a mission to grow and empower the UK’s cyber workforce. 

“We exist to champion, charter and connect the profession; that requires joined-up, creative and future focused solutions.”

The White Paper was also discussed during an event hosted by the Cybersecurity Business Network during the Labour Party Conference in late September.

It was officially launched on Monday with an event at Westminster, backed by the APPG for Cyber Innovation, as Parliament returned after its recess.

Dr Vasileiou said: “We are building momentum as Parliament returns after the Conference Season and, as ever, we remain grateful to all of our partners for their support as we continue working to ensure the UK has the cyber security skills needed to protect future economic growth.”