Iomart joins initiative to boost gender diversity in cyber security as applications deadline approaches
Leading cloud computing and IT managed services provider Iomart Group Plc has pledged its support to the rapidly expanding UK initiative aimed at improving gender diversity in one of the country’s fastest growing but least diverse tech sectors - cyber security.
Iomart is the latest Industry Partner to join forces with techUK and the Cabinet Office’s Government Security Group in supporting the Empowering Women to Lead Cyber Security initiative, designed with the goal of developing a sustainable community of emerging female leaders in cyber security and information governance roles across the UK and addressing the long-standing lack of women working within the sector.
The initiative was initially launched last year in Scotland and its success there has spurred the organisers, Empowering You, to expand the initiative’s reach to new UK regions. The first programme for London and Southern England ran in Spring and received over 100 applications from cyber security professionals across government, financial services, telecommunications, defence and aviation, professional services and tech, all vying for the 20 places available on the cohort. Following on from that positive response, the initiative’s latest schedule will now see programmes running in London & Southern England, Northern England, Northern Ireland and Scotland throughout the Autumn.
Each of the regional leadership programmes brings together 20 to 24, early-mid career cybersecurity and information management professionals, who are selected from an open application process to take part in a unique, three month leadership development program which combines in-person group workshops, dedicated one to one coaching, industry leader guest speakers and culminates in a group project, where the participants present their solutions for long standing challenges facing society which cyber security can help to address to an audience of industry peers. All places on the programme are free of charge to participants, with the funding provided by a combination of government and industry partners. The final make-up of the cohort is decided by the programme panel, made up of sector experts from across government and industry.
Time is running out though for any aspiring leaders wishing to put themselves forward for the Autumn programmes. Applications to the Scotland programme closed last week, Northern Ireland closes on the 19 August and the closing date for applications to both the London & Southern England and Northern England programmes is the 26 August.
Commenting on why Iomart had decided to support the initiative, Kirsty Woodman, Sales Operations Director for Iomart said: “Diversity in leadership is key to providing any organisation with a varied set of voices and opinions. How can we be successful without adequate representation from all of our people? Empowering women to believe they can achieve is fundamental to their and our success, empowering women to believe they can achieve in what are traditionally male dominated sectors is especially key to a business like iomart as we grow our talent and our business in these sectors. We are moving in the right direction, with more women entering into leadership positions but we still have progress to make. Once we as a business have attracted the right people, we need to ensure that we empower and facilitate their success. I’m really excited to be involved in this Empowering Woman to Lead cohort.”
How to apply
Applications for the Northern Ireland programme are open until the 19 August and further details, including how to apply, can be found at EW to Lead Cyber - Northern Ireland (empowering-you.co.uk)
Applications for the London and Southern England programme are open until the 26 August and further details, including how to apply, can be found at EW to Lead Cyber - London and Southern England (empowering-you.co.uk)
Applications for the Northern England programme are open until the 26 August and further details, including how to apply can be found at - EW to Lead Cyber - Northern England (empowering-you.co.uk)
Jill Broom
Jill leads the techUK Cyber Security programme, having originally joined techUK in October 2020 as a Programme Manager for the Cyber and Central Government programmes. She is responsible for managing techUK's work across the cyber security ecosystem, bringing industry together with key stakeholders across the public and private sectors. Jill also provides the industry secretariat for the Cyber Growth Partnership, the industry and government conduit for supporting the growth of the sector. A key focus of her work is to strengthen the public–private partnership across cyber to support further development of UK cyber security and resilience policy.
