Preston Schools and Colleges Get Digital Skills Boost at Cyber Education Week
Young people from in and around Preston experienced what a high-tech career in the cyber industry could look like when they joined in with a week-long cyber skills ‘takeover’ involving more than 200 schools, colleges and universities across the county.
Part of the 2025 Lancashire Cyber Festival, and organised by the Lancashire Cyber Partnership, the cyber education week saw over 12,000 children and young people discovering more about study pathways and future job opportunities set to be created by Lancashire’s cyber sector.
Over 30 schools from in and around Preston signed up to take part in a variety of different activities. This included pupils from several local secondary schools visiting Runshaw College, Cardinal Newman College, Myerscough College, and Preston College, to experience a day of engaging cyber activities.
With a strong emphasis on fun, interaction and teamwork, pupils took part in cybersecurity-based quizzes, password management sessions, code-breaking challenges, cybercrime protection demonstrations and a virtual escape room competition which involved solving complex digital puzzles.
The following day, students from Cardinal Newman and Preston College visited the University of Central Lancashire, and a cohort from Runshaw College attended Edge Hill University.
Like the pupils who had visited their respective institutions on the previous day, the college students were themselves tasked with cracking cyber puzzles and solving technical challenges linked to online threats. They also got to learn about some of the topics covered in a cyber degree, such as penetration testing, digital forensics, and cryptography.
In addition to giving young people the chance to experience what studying a cyber course could be like, both the college and university activities were programmed to showcase the vast range of different careers which Lancashire’s cyber economy has to offer, including some of the high-skilled jobs which will be generated directly and indirectly by the National Cyber Force HQ (NCF) coming to Samlesbury.
Younger children were also involved with the week’s proceedings. BAE Systems ran a series of tactile and interactive technology projects for nine and ten year-olds at the University of Central Lancashire, while Lancashire primary schools took part in online assemblies focused on cyber-related topics.
Further, a special cyber discovery day - specifically designed to encourage more girls to consider a future career in cyber - was hosted at Chorley Town Hall.
The CyberFirst MEGA event, which was produced by the IN4.0 Group in support of the National Cyber Security Centre’s (NCSC) CyberFirst programme, saw hundreds of 12 and 13 year-old girls from schools in and around Chorley getting to grips with the latest AI, VR and robotic technologies.
Commenting on the involvement of Lancashire’s colleges, Rosie Fearn, Director of The Lancashire Colleges group, said: “This brilliant countywide initiative has meant pupils from schools from across Lancashire have had chance to see exactly what kind of cyber-related courses are on offer through colleges like Cardinal Newman, Myerscough, Preston and Runshaw. In turn, students from each of our colleges have been given a taste of what a Higher Education cyber programme would be like.
“Throughout all the activities, the message has been very clear; that cyber opportunities are something that are both accessible and attainable to everyone and that Lancashire is set to be the best place in the UK to pursue a cyber-focused career.”
A spokesperson for the Lancashire Cyber Partnership, a strategic collaboration between Lancashire County Council, the University of Central Lancashire, Lancaster University, BAE Systems, and the NCF, said: “The Lancashire Cyber Partnership works to ensure all Lancashire residents feel the benefit of the county’s growing cyber economy. A vital part of that is giving people the chance to access education and training opportunities which can lead to a high-skilled and high-value career in the cyber sector, and related industries.
“Cyber education week is a great example of how we go about achieving that objective. It’s fantastic that so many young people from across Lancashire got to take part, and see what their own future in cyber could look like.”
Phillippa Williamson, Leader of Lancashire County Council, said: “Lancashire’s cyber education week, which is part of the 2025 Lancashire Cyber Festival, has given thousands of young people at different stages of education the chance to experience the exciting skills and job opportunities which are offered by Lancashire’s growing cyber sector.
"To achieve this, the Lancashire Cyber Partnership worked closely with schools, colleges, universities, and many other providers, to create a dynamic programme of events which were directly related to the different cyber careers and study pathways available across Lancashire.
“As a result, we’ve seen learners of all ages, from all backgrounds, and from all parts of Lancashire, taking part in a diverse range of engaging activities which have been hands-on inspiring, as well as educational.”
Lancashire’s cyber education week is one of a series of in-person and online events which make up the 2025 Lancashire Cyber Festival.
Other interventions - which will include industry workshops, discussion panels, special seminars and networking sessions - will be focused on the wider skills, investment and business growth opportunities set to be unlocked by Lancashire’s growing cyber economy.