CompTIA Newsroom

CompTIA’s award-winning Cyber Ready programme now open for applications
from residents across West Yorkshire

The government funded retraining course will equip people with the cyber security
skills and knowledge needed to find industry-related job 

BRADFORD, U.K. – Applications for the latest edition of the award winning Cyber Ready programme are now open for residents in the West Yorkshire region, CompTIA, the non-profit association for the information technology (IT) industry and workforce, announced today.

Cyber Ready is a free, six-month retraining programme and is part of the government's £2.6 billion National Cyber Strategy to protect and promote the nation online, and develop the cyber security skills to boost the UK digital economy.

The flipped classroom programme provides individuals with training to develop their cyber security skills and knowledge, helping them to secure industry related employment.

A recent survey found that more than half of UK businesses identified cyber threats as a top risk to their business, yet 50% lack basic technical skills such as configuring firewalls, detecting malware, and controlling privileged access. Cyber Ready aims to play a key role in addressing the industry skills gap and helping keep UK business more secure.

During the programme, candidates will receive a 12-month subscription to the latest industry-standard content on cyber security, which will be accessible through eLearning, cloud-powered virtual labs, and online knowledge assessments to strengthen their cyber skills. The learning will be supervised by instructors with real world experience in cyber security.

As part of the programme, candidates will have the opportunity to undertake two professional certifications from CompTIA.

CompTIA Security+, an internationally recognised credential that validates the baseline skills needed to perform core cyber security functions.

CompTIA CySA+ (Cybersecurity Analyst), which validates an IT professional’s ability to apply behavioural analytics to networks and devices to prevent, detect and combat cyber security threats.

The Cyber Ready Bradford programme is intended for individuals with previous experience in IT including those returning to employment, first line IT technicians, former IT apprentices or IT graduates struggling to find an industry-related job. The programme is available for individuals living in Bradford and the wider West Yorkshire region who have a desire to build and develop their skills for more advanced positions in the cyber industry, such as becoming a cyber security analyst.

Cyber Ready  is recognised by the wider industry, with the programme winning the Best Professional Training or Certification Programme at the 2022 SC Awards Europe.  Cyber Ready was praised for exceeding customer expectations, with judges highlighting “how it differentiates itself from competitors with its focus on a diverse pool of candidates.”

“Currently, there is a significant cyber security skills gap which is increasing and affecting numerous firms, not just in the UK, but around the globe,” said Zeshan Sattar, Senior Director, Learning & Skills Certification at CompTIA. “As we continue to move forward in the digital age, it’s vital that we provide people with the skills necessary so that they can move into these roles, creating high value jobs and providing businesses with the expertise they need to keep secure.

“That is why we have chosen to bring Cyber Ready back to Bradford and the West Yorkshire region. This area has a pool of fantastic talent that, if given access to the right training and resources, can be provided with opportunities to move into the cyber security industry, bringing skilled jobs to the region and helping to continue to build West Yorkshire’s reputation as a hub of technological excellence.”

Cyber Ready is part of Cyber Local, a regional programme supported by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) with an overarching goal to build momentum in cyber in our local communities, strengthening regional partnerships and forging closer links with industry, academia and public sector to develop and strengthen cyber ecosystems.

Those who wish to register for the Cyber Ready programme may apply at https://www.comptia.org/content/lp/cyber-ready. Deadlines for applications are on Friday 14th April and candidates will be selected by a panel of assessors to join the programme which begins on the 27th April and finishes on the 27th October.           

About CompTIA
The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is a leading voice and advocate for the $5 trillion global information technology ecosystem; and the estimated 75 million industry and tech professionals who design, implement, manage, and safeguard the technology that powers the world’s economy. Through education, training, certifications, advocacy, philanthropy, and market research, CompTIA is the hub for unlocking the potential of the tech industry and its workforce. https://www.comptia.org/