The UK government aims to initiate a global discussion with key nations on effectively addressing global cyber threats and bridging the cyber skills gap.
Delegates from the United States, European Union, Canada, Japan, and international organizations such as the World Economic Forum and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development will gather in the UK this week to engage in talks on cyber preparedness. The three-day event will be held at Wilton Park in West Sussex and is expected to conclude with the commissioning of a report that will provide recommendations on enhancing the capacities of the global cyber security workforce and fostering international collaboration.
“This event showcases the UK’s leadership in uniting like-minded countries to address one of the most pressing threats faced by nations worldwide today,” stated the government. “We hope this will establish cyber security as a key global priority and become a regular event, with other nations taking turns to host in the future.”
According to the latest UK Labour Market Survey, while the estimated annual shortfall in the country’s cyber workforce has decreased from 11,200 last year to 3,500 in 2024, 44% of UK businesses still lack the necessary skills to defend against cyber attacks. Additionally, research from the industry body ISC2 indicates that the global cyber security workforce must grow by 87% to meet the current talent shortage.
In conjunction with the Wilton Park summit, the government will launch a £1.3 million initiative to provide localized support for businesses in England and Northern Ireland in cybersecurity defense, which will include regional access to apprenticeships and new cyber security tools. Innovate UK plans to grant up to £150,000 to successful applicants by March 2025.
“The figures underscore the necessity for targeted efforts to ensure the UK’s cyber security workforce continues to cultivate a diverse talent pipeline to maintain national online safety, which the new regional skills program aims to address,” the government statement noted.
Cyber Security Minister Feryal Clark emphasized that the event reflects the government’s dedication to strengthening the nation’s cyber defenses and that enhancing cyber skills will provide an economic boost to the £11.9 billion UK IT security sector.
“The UK requires substantial improvements in its cyber defenses after the previous government’s failure to enhance our cyber laws – we are working to remedy that,” stated Clark. “Later this year, we will introduce new measures to better safeguard the nation against cyber crime, and our regional skills program will support the emergence of the next generation of cyber talent and innovators.”
She further remarked, “This is a collective challenge, which is why we are convening global allies to discuss and agree on steps to ensure our safety online, enhance cyber skills, and protect our economy and public services.”
In a related move, the government recently designated datacenters as critical national infrastructure, a step expected to increase cyber security support for the sector.
