More than 15 women have graduated from cyberUPLIFT, a new cybersecurity training programme from TECwomen, a community-interest company committed to supporting, training, and building a network for women who work or aspire to work in the Technology, Engineering, and Creative Digital industries.
The programme, which builds on the success of TECwomen’s digitalUPLIFT initiative, was developed to tackle two urgent and interconnected challenges: the rising level of online threats disproportionately affecting women and the critical underrepresentation of women in cybersecurity careers—especially in rural regions like Cornwall.
“The cyberUPLIFT course has been an overwhelming success,” said Suzanne Manson, Operations Director at TECwomen CIC. “It has been a pleasure seeing the participants grow in confidence as they have expanded their cybersecurity knowledge and skills.”
Upskilling Women to Protect Themselves and Their Workplaces
Research from King’s College has shown that women are 25% more likely than men to experience online abuse, while men are significantly more likely to engage with protective security technologies. This disparity in access to online safety tools leaves many women more vulnerable to cyber threats.
cyberUPLIFT aims to close this gap by equipping women with the digital literacy and practical cybersecurity skills they need to better protect themselves in an increasingly hostile online environment.
Enabling Career Pivots into a Growing Industry
Beyond personal empowerment, the programme is also helping participants transition into cybersecurity careers—a sector currently facing a significant talent shortage. According to Security Brief UK, 71% of organisations in the UK have been affected by the cybersecurity skills gap. Yet, despite ongoing efforts to diversify the field, the proportion of women in cybersecurity roles fell from 24% in 2021 to just 17% in 2024.
This issue is especially pronounced in rural areas like Cornwall, where geographic isolation, a lack of local training options, and limited visibility of tech roles often prevent women in sectors like healthcare, education, and hospitality from making the leap into cybersecurity.
cyberUPLIFT addresses this by offering a flexible, online 8-week course designed to build both technical capabilities and personal confidence. Participants learned how to protect their communities from cyber threats and gained foundational skills needed to break into a traditionally male-dominated industry.
“We would like to thank Innovate UK specifically for their support in making this happen,” added Manson. “And we extend our appreciation to the partners who offered their time and expertise to really bring the course to life and show the participants what a potential career in the cybersecurity industry will be like. We wish our graduates the best of luck in the future.”
Building Industry Connections
While the course was primarily online, cyberUPLIFT also featured in-person sessions to help participants build direct links with the cybersecurity industry. Mentors from the National Cyber Security Centre, Cool Waters Cyber, and the South West Cyber Resilience Centre participated in the initiative. One of the highlights was a workshop hosted by Cool Waters Cyber called “A Day in the Life of a Cyber Essentials Consultant.”
“I’m delighted to see so many women engaging with cyber security and showing an interest in a career in cyber,” said Mark Faithfull, CEO of Cool Waters Cyber. “The level of engagement and enthusiasm was exciting to see. We are proud to support TECwomen CIC in this project and continue to develop the next generation of cyber skills in Cornwall.”
Participants also had the opportunity to network with professionals from Cornwall Council, Corserv, and Kings Service Centre, which further helped bridge the gap between learning and real-world application.
The programme’s popularity quickly exceeded expectations. Although initially designed for 15 women, the course announced in January 2025 was oversubscribed within weeks. It launched on 29 January with 22 participants, with more joining later and others placed on a waiting list for future iterations.
Looking Ahead: Inspiring the Next Generation
Following the success of cyberUPLIFT, TECwomen CIC is expanding its efforts to reach even younger audiences. With support from the Cyber Local Fund, the organisation is launching the TECgirls Cyber Guardians Club—an 8-week hybrid afterschool programme aimed at Key Stage 2 students.
The initiative will introduce 100 girls from 10 schools across Cornwall to cybersecurity concepts and their intersection with mental health and wellbeing in an increasingly digital world. The programme will culminate in a special in-person gathering on 26th March, where all participants will meet for a day of inspiration and interactive workshops.
After completing the programme, each girl will become a “Cyber Guardian” in her school, helping share vital lessons about online safety and digital wellbeing with students and staff.
