Cyber Girls First began in 2014 and initially noted that 8% of the computer and cyber workforce were women. Eleven years later female representation has risen to 20%. Participants enter cyber from diverse pathways including computer science degrees, career changers, and sponsored apprenticeships. Internal apprenticeships appeal to school-leavers avoiding three-year university debts of up to £50,000. Over 60 events were held across England and Wales in corporate offices and university campuses. Targeting Year 8 students influences GCSE option choices. Activities include code-breaking, hacking games, password security education, and simulations for budgeting cybersecurity protections.
When I began Cyber Girls First (CGF) in 2014, the figures produced by the industry showed that out of the total employees in the computer and cyber workforce, 8% were women. Eleven years later, the industry has grown exponentially, with 20% of the total being women. They are coming from a variety of backgrounds - graduates in computer science, those who are changing careers, and graduates from sponsored apprenticeships such as Cisco, Rolls Royce and the regional police forces.
Girls in year 8 (aged 12 to 13) from local secondary schools spend the day on a campus, where they can absorb the atmosphere, see what's available to them in graduate subjects, student accommodation, plus clubs which are available in sports, arts and sciences. Year 8 is chosen specifically because that is the time when they make their choice of options for GCSE.
Over the Summer we have held events in Colt Technology, Lancaster University, and Eton College. Girls took part in code-breaking and hacking games and learned about the importance of using strong passwords. At Lancaster University, schools took part in a simulation where they were given a notional budget and had to decide how much to spend on equipment and software to protect their financial assets, and firewalls to protect their customer
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