Renishaw at EmPowerCyber to educate girls on cyber security

To inspire and educate girls on the opportunities the cyber security and technology industry has to offer, Gloucestershire-based international engineering technologies company, Renishaw, took part in EmPowerCyber event last month, organised by Cyber Cheltenham (CyNam).

EmPowerCyber aims to change perceptions about diversity within the sector by creating a variety of workshops to encourage young girls to consider a career in cyber security. At the full day event, around 800 Year 8 girls had the opportunity to take part in hands-on workshops covering four different ‘zones’ — cyber security, cryptography, networking, and logic and coding.

Local businesses contributed to the workshops and activities, with the aim of supporting girls in learning more about the sector and creating a more diverse industry. During the event, Renishaw’s STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) Outreach team ran workshops in the logic and coding zone, with a challenge that involved coding a BBC Microbit buggie to move around within a defined space, helping them to develop an understanding of coding and how to create algorithms. Renishaw’s STEM ambassadors were also on hand to explain how these coding skills apply to the wider technology industry.

Confidence and opportunity
Lucy Spiteri-Beale, a Renishaw Early Careers STEM Outreach tutor, said: “The EmPowerCyber event will give girls the confidence and opportunity to explore careers in STEM and in particular, to inspire them to consider a career in cyber security and technology. Events like these offer businesses the chance to come together to address the gender imbalance in STEM-related industries and make a real difference.”

Sarah Lewis, also an Outreach tutor at Renishaw, added: “We recognise that everyone needs to do their part in changing the industry for future generations. By partnering with events designed to highlight that opportunities exist for everyone, we hope to inspire all young people to consider STEM-based careers.”

According to The International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC), men outnumber women by three to one in the cyber security industry. CyNam hopes that running events like EmPowerCyber will help reduce this gender gap and get more girls and young women interested about a career in cyber security and technology.