‘Cyber Girls First’ Event Inspires Blackpool’s Next Generation of Digital Talent

At the instigation of 10 Downing Street and Sir Andrew and Lady Parmley, Cyber Girls First has organised three events in Lancashire.  The latest one was held at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, where 80 KS8 girls from; Fleetwood High School, Cardinal Allen, Montgomery, Highfield and Armfield took part in a day of careers information, code cracking, cyber puzzles and presentations from many industry people, including GCHQ/Cyber First, Colt Technology, Launch Your Career, JPMorgan plus representation from local companies Koeber and Code Galaxy.

The girls were introduced to lots of fun items such as tracking/spying and looking at careers on the Launch Your Career platform via AV goggles.  They were able to take the goggles home with them and the teachers were also given a supply of them for use in careers discussions at school.  One teacher responded by saying “These are going to transform the Careers classes.”

The event was a collaboration on the ground between Laura James of the Fylde Coast RBN, Lisa Scargill of Lancashire Careers Hub and Kerry Harrison of the Lancashire LEP.

The highlight of the event was the last section, where all the IT professionals circulated around the tables to answer individual questions from the girls about their journey through the IT industry to their current position.

You can find out more about Cyber Girls First by visiting www.cybergirlsfirst.com