CyberFirst at the Heart of STEMFest Bradford 2025
From 24–26 June, over 3,000 students attended STEMFest Bradford, stepping into a world of exploration across four themed zones: Space & Travel, Technology & Cyber, Sustainability & Well-being, and Manufacturing. This large-scale celebration of STEM gave students an opportunity to engage with hands-on experiences and real-life role models — helping them see the exciting possibilities ahead in science, technology, engineering, and maths.
One of the most talked-about highlights of the event was the CyberFirst activities, where our incredible CyberFirst Team alongside our Cyber Ambassadors delivered dynamic, engaging experiences — placing Cyber Security front and centre.
CyberFirst Ambassadors at the Forefront: Across three unique, pre-bookable activities, CyberFirst sparked curiosity and real-world thinking among students:
Cyber Heist – a fast-paced digital challenge that simulates a real-world cyber mission
Operation Enigma – introducing cryptography through history and logic puzzles
Trailblazers – showcasing how technology is used in the workplace and discussing diverse pathways in cyber careers
Cyber Heist in particular captured students’ imaginations — thanks in part to a very special guest: an AI cyber dog. Based on Boston Dynamics Spot, the professional-grade quadruped robot, this futuristic companion brought advanced technology to life in front of their eyes. Powered by AI, SLAM (Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping), and autonomous navigation, Spot is typically used in high-stakes environments like oil rigs, construction sites, and search-and-rescue missions.
By incorporating this cutting-edge robot into the challenge, Cyber Heist demonstrated the real-world applications of Cyber Security, robotics, and AI in a way that was unforgettable. Students weren’t just playing a game — they were interacting with the future.
Zeshan Sattar: A Leading Force in Cyber Inspiration: At the heart of the delivery was Zeshan Sattar, an experienced CyberFirst Ambassador and long-time advocate of the NCSC programme. Zeshan’s energy, insight, and leadership were evident throughout, particularly during Cyber Heist, where he helped guide students through complex scenarios with a mix of enthusiasm and expertise.
Zeshan said “Since 2018, I’ve proudly championed CyberFirst because I believe every young person deserves the chance to discover the endless possibilities of Cyber Security. Hosting CyberFirst at STEMFest in Bradford – the City of Culture 2025 – was an incredible opportunity to ignite pupils’ curiosity. Watching them crack codes, collaborate, and light up with excitement reminded me how powerful hands-on learning is in inspiring tomorrow’s cyber professionals.”
Zeshan’s presence, along with our many other Cyber & STEM Ambassadors throughout the event helped ensure students not only learned — they connected with what they were learning. His enthusiasm, combined with his and the expertise of the wider CyberFirst Ambassador team, made the experience authentic, exciting, and deeply impactful.
Teamwork in Action: The delivery of the entire event & the CyberFirst experiences was made possible thanks to the dedication of our Ambassadors and the support of brilliant Cummins volunteers, a huge shout out to Charlotte Wolvstenholme & Michelle Duck, who helped ensure everything ran smoothly and professionally across the three days. Together, showing how industry and education can collaborate to open new doors for young people.
We’re incredibly proud of what CyberFirst achieved at STEMFest Bradford. From advanced robotics to hands-on cryptography, the experience was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when passion, technology, and education come together.
