CyberFirst Horizons Programme – A resounding Success
The CyberFirst Horizons pilot programme, conducted in the North East during Summer 2025, was a fully funded, multi-phase initiative for 50 Year 12 & 13 students.
Its primary aim was to bridge critical skills and experience gaps in cyber security and technology, specifically targeting young people facing significant barriers to access.
Over four intensive weeks, students engaged in skills workshops, direct industry interactions with 33 local companies, immersive site visits, and official NCSC Cyber Defenders/Advanced courses. The programme successfully prioritised diversity and inclusion, with 84% of participants meeting at least one widening participation criterion, and provided crucial support like student grants, travel reimbursement, and 50 donated laptops.
Evaluation revealed overwhelmingly positive outcomes, including:
Strong Student Engagement: Marked improvements in confidence, knowledge, and self-efficacy regarding tech careers.
Tangible Skill Development: Increased reported tech skills and significant industry interaction (83% of students talked to tech professionals’ post-program).
Positive Perceptions: More positive and accessible views of tech careers, though a slight increase in gender bias perception was noted for future attention.
Robust Industry Support: Employers praised the quality of participants and the opportunity to contribute to social mobility.
The pilot established a viable and impactful model, demonstrating a clear route to scale into a national pipeline. Key recommendations for future iterations include optimising program duration, enhancing the mentor program, expanding hybrid learning, developing a "Tech Passport," focusing on gender diversity, and implementing a comprehensive application portal with reserved places for widening participation students.
The programme also established a robust framework for sustained student engagement and mentorship and met all eight Gatsby Benchmarks for Good Career Guidance.
A huge thank you from the CyberFirst NE Team to The Hg Foundation for fully funding this programme and to The National Cyber Security Centre for the continued support.
