GCHQ to run cyber-security competition targeting tech-smart teen girls

Ever considered a career in cyber security?

GCHQ has announced plans to run a competition for tech-smart teenage girls in the UK in a bid to encourage more women to consider careers in cyber security.

Billed as "an exciting competition to inspire and encourage young girls to consider a career in cyber", the CyberFirst Girls Competition has been set up by GCHQ's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), and looks to end the imbalance in the cyber security industry that means just 10 per cent of the global cyber workforce are females.

Teams of teens aged 13-15 have been invited to enter in teams of four, along with a teacher who will act as a guardian and mentor.

They will have their computer skills tested against other school girls from across the UK in a series of online challenges that, NCSC notes, will get "progressively harder" enabling "girls to stretch their learning and gain further knowledge that could help them in their everyday lives".

The top 10 teams will progress to a national final in London in March where they will compete against each other to investigate what's described as 'suspicious cyber activity' and attempt to solve who is behind a crime.

The winning contestants will take home individual prizes and their school will receive IT equipment to the value of £1,000 (ie: the price of one or two laptops!). Girls will also be given the opportunity to apply for CyberFirst Student Bursary of £4,000 per year of undergraduate study at university.

GCHQ director Robert Hannigan said: "I work alongside some truly brilliant women who help protect the UK from all manner of online threats.

"The CyberFirst Girls Competition allows teams of young women a glimpse of this exciting world and provides a great opportunity to use new skills.

"My advice to all potential applicants would be to enjoy the experience and I look forward to meeting some of you."