The Security Institute and the EY Foundation has this month launched the ‘Secure Futures’ programme. Some 27 young people from low income backgrounds have taken part in a week’s worth of paid virtual work experience, tailored to the security sector. It’s been hailed by one of the industry people who joined in; SIA chief executive Michelle Russell. In a webinar with the Institute this morning, she said the young people were fantastic: “It was really, really inspiring. If that’s our future, we are in safe hands. They were creative, innovative, articulate; I couldn’t have presented at the age of 16, 17, 18 with such confidence, articulation, expertise as they did. I was in awe.”
It’s part of the Institute’s ‘Next Generation in Security’ work. The aim; to help improve the life chances of young people from low-income backgrounds, helping them develop their skills and show what opportunities are within the security sector.
The week was the first of two virtual work experience weeks – the next is in April – then followed by ten months of mentoring from volunteer security professionals and a year’s membership of the Institute to help support their professional development. The young people took part in several sessions designed to develop their core transferable skills, such as communication and leadership. Several senior security professionals from across the sector joined, to share their thoughts and answer any questions.
Speaking on her experience on the programme one of the young people said she came into the programme blind: “I didn’t know there were so many roles within the security sector. Finding out from different people sharing their insights and experiences has made me more interested in security, for example I didn’t know before the programme that there was a wide variety of cyber security jobs out there.
“I didn’t have any idea what the sector was like, but now I see that it is open to anyone and there is a variety of things you can do. After one of the speakers came in, I am now interested in the role of a malware analyst and have started doing some of my own further research outside of the programme.”
A Dragon’s Den style challenge at the end of the week was judged by an panel including besides Michelle Russell and Rick Mounfield CSyP FSyI (Chief Executive, The Security Institute), Alison Jackson (Managing Director, events organisers Nineteen Group), Mark Tucknutt (Security Institute member and consultant), Yoni Alon and Thomas Crewe.
The young people were challenged to develop a mobile app that would help attract other young people their age to a career in security, and help raise awareness about the security challenges we all face. The ideas varied from gamifying students’ learning pathways to find out about security careers to using GPS to raise awareness about local issues related to security. The winners of the Dragon’s Den Challenge will be announced at a virtual graduation ceremony on April 9.
Afterwards another of the young people said he learnt quite a lot, such as the different pathways that are available to get into the sector. “It was very inspiring speaking to senior security professionals, as young people we don’t really get the opportunity to speak to people in high positions very often. It was great to have them share their experiences and wisdom, we see a lot of the good work they as security professionals do around us but rarely see all the hard work and effort that goes behind it. After this week I want to research more to find out which sector I want to go into.”
The April week will provide a further insight into physical, personnel and cyber security. The 27 have been invited to a number of industry events, and will remain in contact with their mentor. The Institute’s Director responsible for the Next Generation in Security initiative is Paul Barnard CSyP MSyI. He said: ‘Planning of the Secure Futures programme pre-dates the current pandemic, but we believed it is now more important than ever for this opportunity to be available to young people from low-income backgrounds and the success of this first week has proved that.
“This first week has highlighted the invaluable contributions that young people can make to the security sector, their fresh perspective and knowledge around different issues will help us tackle the challenges we face with innovative solutions. We need to embrace the next generation, and the Secure Futures programme is helping lead the way for the whole sector.’
The first week was facilitated by the EY Foundation’s Programme Delivery Team, which included Nia Lonergan and Anita Chouhan. This is the Foundation’s first multi-employer programme. Anita said: ‘It has been a truly inspiring week, and it has been fantastic seeing our young people get passionate about the world of security. We’ve never had a multi-employer programme before, so this has been a ground-breaking programme for us. The enthusiasm and expertise of the volunteer speakers has been keenly felt by everyone, and the support that the programme has received from across the sector has been remarkable.’
Other sponsors include: guard firms CIS Security, ICTS, Ward Security, and Wilson James; the City of London Crime Prevention Association, Nineteen Group (the International Security Expo and the Security Event), SASIG, SIA, The Walt Disney Company Global Security EMEA and the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals.
If you would be interested in supporting ‘Secure Futures’ contact Paul Barnard: email [email protected].
