CATEGORIES
Education BulletinsWelcome to the February 2025 edition of the Learning and Skills Bulletin!
February sees CyberScotland Week 2025 run from 24 February to 2 March and this year’s theme Can’t hack it!? highlights the everyday actions we can all take to improve our cyber resilience. There is something for everyone, with events taking place across Scotland to raise awareness of cyber security and strengthen our collective cyber resilience.
It’s not too late to get involved. Anyone can host an event for CyberScotland Week, and you can register it here or browse the full list of events at CyberScotland Week – Cyber Scotland
Free webinars, events and learning opportunities will be available throughout the week, and a comms pack will be sent to you too. Here’s a flavour of those being offered by our learning and skills partners and organisations:
- A series of six webinars from LEAD Scotland including 6 Actions for staying safe online, How to cope in a data breach and many more. The sessions are suitable for anyone to attend, and come with accompanying resources in Easy Read, BSL, and through their online learning platform, my.lead. You can also find out more information here.
- Securi-Tay, the world’s largest student-run information security conference, run by Abertay University’s Ethical Hacking Society on 28 February 2025.
- The Inaugural National Teaching Ethical Hacking Workshop at Abertay University on 27th February which will bring together educators from across the UK and Europe to discuss teaching methods, challenges, and the practicalities of incorporating cybersecurity in the classroom.
- A series of curriculum live lessons, sharing practice, and professional learning sessions delivered by Education Scotland to educate, support, and empower schools, educators, learners, and organisations with the knowledge and tools to stay secure online. Find out more here
Schools
Cyber Explorers Cup 2025
Entries are now open for the Cyber Explorers Cup 2025! The competition complements the Cyber Explorers learning programme, a free UK Government initiative, introducing students aged 11-14 to the world of cyber security through online learning. The deadline for entries is 21 March 2025 with competition week running from 31 March to 4 April and winners announced on 30 April. You can find out more here.
Virtual Activity Workshops
Enhance your cyber security lessons with a free, one-hour virtual workshop led by Cyber Explorers ambassador and TV personality Baasit Siddiqui! Perfect for students aged 11–14, these sessions explore how cyber security skills can unlock exciting career paths and tie in with the free Cyber Explorers learning programme. Workshops feature real-world scenarios, interactive programme highlights, and a fun Kahoot! quiz, all delivered in Baasit’s engaging teaching style. Find out more and register your class here.
YoungScot
The latest edition of YS magazine is now available online. Packed full of puzzles, stories and discounts it also features information about cyber security and digital skills and keeping safe online.
Colleges and Universities
West College Scotland: Supporting CyberFirst Pathways to Cybersecurity Careers
As a proud partner for the CyberFirst programme in Scotland, West College Scotland is eager to build connections with local CyberFirst schools to highlight the pathway to their HNC/D Cyber Security courses. To support this initiative, they’re hosting a CyberFirst Day on Wednesday, 5th March, where pupils interested in pursuing a career in cybersecurity can participate in hands-on workshops and secure a place on our HND course on the day. Through their partnerships with multiple universities, students can progress directly to the third year of degree programmes in Cyber Security after completing the HND—ensuring no extra year’s study for those taking the school-to-college-to-university route.
For more information or to register interest, please contact Iain Shand at iain.shand@wcs.ac.uk.
Businesses and organisations
Cyber Upskilling Fund: Public sector
Are you a public sector organisation interested in upskilling your existing staff responsible for Cyber Security at no cost to your business?
Applications for the third round of the Public Sector Cyber Security Professionals Upskilling Fund, by the Scottish Government’s National Cyber Resilience Unit is now open.
The aim of the fund is to help public sector organisations build their cyber security capabilities through upskilling their staff responsible for cyber security. The Fund can support accredited training and qualifications in cyber security (not general awareness raising).
As an employer you can claim up to £5,000 per learner (maximum of £7,000 per organisation) to pay for cyber skills training for your information/cyber security employees (or employees performing these functions). Simply complete the below application* for the employees you would like to upskill, including course, accreditation or qualification details and costs.
To be eligible, your organisation must be registered or based in Scotland, be recognised as a public sector organisation, and training must be secured by 31st March 2025.
This is a quick and easy way to develop the skills of your information/cyber security staff, helping strengthen the cyber resilience of your organisation.
Submit your application now here.
Industry into the classroom
Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) makes it easy to connect with young people in education, so they develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the world of work. Why not get involved to raise your organisation’s profile as an employer of choice by connecting with a diverse range of young people and inspiring the future workforce. Employers can positively impact Scotland’s youth in as little as one hour! Find out more and get involved in your local area here.
Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2025 is Made for Business
Scottish Apprenticeship Week is a nationwide celebration of apprenticeships. It’s the time for everyone to shout about the benefits work-based learning brings to businesses, people and the economy. The week, which runs from 3 to 7 March 2025, highlights how apprenticeships create a competitive and capable workforce for Scotland. You can find out more here. #ScotAppWeek25. Also information on apprenticeships can be found here.
LEAD Scotland
LEAD Scotland has organised a Scottish Parliamentary Reception with Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP on the 26th February 2025, coinciding with LEAD organisation’s 45th birthday! The event will raise awareness of the work of the Cyber Scotland campaigns and the range of courses and resources that they have developed.
Cyber and Fraud Centre
The Cyber and Fraud Centre has organised a Cyber Executive Education Programme which equips CEOs, Directors and Non-Executive Directors with essential frameworks and best practice to manage cyber security-related risks and increase knowledge of potential threats to an organisation. For more information about the Executive Education day on the 20th February click here.
A further Executive Education day for the public and third sector will be held on the 20th March and you can find out more here.
Cyber Nytes panel event on the 20th February in Edinburgh, is a chance to hear from a panel of experts discussing the topic of business email compromise (BEC) and giving practical advice on how to avoid BEC in the future. You can find out more here.
A practical session, designed specifically for Public and Third Sector organisations to help develop and enhance their own incident response plans will take place on the 13th March. You can find out more here.
Remember, to report an email phishing attempt forward your email to the National Cyber Security Centre: report@phishing.gov.uk
If you are a victim of cyber crime, please report it to Police Scotland by calling 101.
