Page 23 - AGM Pamphlet 2021

Next Gen in Security

The past year has been one of great success for our Next
Generation in Security Initiative, despite regular activities such
as hosting groups of Volunteer Police Cadets at sector events
have been post-poned until 2021.

This year saw the launch of the ‘Secure Futures’ programme,
the first youth focused employability programme of its kind
for our sector. As well as the Institute’s continued support of
the government’s ‘Kickstart Scheme’, which aims to get more
young professionals into work and can help drive talent into
the security sector.

Our Secure Futures Programme

On February 15th 2021, the inaugural ‘Secure Futures’ programme commenced digitally.
The employability programme which has been launched by the Security Institute and the EY
Foundation, saw 27 young people from low income backgrounds take part in a week’s worth of
paid virtual work experience that had been tailored specifically to the security sector.

The Secure Futures programme has been launched by the Security Institute and the EY
Foundation, with the support of several sponsors, as part of the Institute’s ‘Next Generation
in Security’ initiative. The programme has been launched to help improve the life chances of
young people from low-income backgrounds, helping them develop their skills and showcase
the breadth of opportunities available within the security sector.

Speaking on her experience on the programme on one of the young people Dina said:

‘I 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.’

Dina and the 26 other young people on the programme took part in two virtual experience
weeks, which will then be followed by 10-months of mentoring from volunteer security
professionals and a year’s free membership to the Security Institute to help support their
professional development as they start their careers.

Speaking on the success of the programme so far, the Institute’s Director responsible for the
Next Generation in Security initiative, Paul Barnard CSyP MSyI said:

‘Planning of the Secure Futures programme predates 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 programme has proved that.’

Paul will be discussing the Next Generation in Security initiative and our ‘Secure Futures’
programme in more detail during the AGM.

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