WIREDGOV

Teenage girls from across the UK are being invited to pit their tech skills against one another in a GCHQ competition to find the best & brightest candidates to protect the nation from future cyber attacks.

The CyberFirst Girls Competition, set up by GCHQ’s new National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), is an important step to knock down barriers preventing women from joining the fight against online crime.  Only 10% of the global cyber workforce are female, meaning millions of British women may be missing out on a career they could excel in.

Girls aged 13-15 can enter the competition in teams of 4, plus a teacher who will act as a guardian & mentor.  The pupils will be put through a series of challenges to test their cyber security skills against young women from all over the UK, with the top 10 teams progressing to a national final in London in March 2017.

The victorious contestants will take home individual prizes and their school will receive IT equipment to the value of £1,000.  There will be hints & tips available to help the students through the online phase and a teacher’s guide to help make the most of the competition.

National Cyber Security Centre:  National challenge will develop schoolgirls’ cyber security skills

Men & women are equal on ‘brainpower’ so deserve equal opportunities

Women who take the lead

Paid to train, no student debt, good employment prospects for both women & men and vital for future UK economic success

Could you help save/protect the Cyber World (specifically the UK’s bit of it)?

Cyber security skills could lead to securing employment

Why?

And an ’Appy’ time will be had by all