The UK government is planning special learning materials for 11 to 14-year-olds and higher-level and advanced apprenticeships to increase the country's cyber security skills.

The Cyber Security Skills: Business Perspectives and Government’s Next Steps report includes plans to provide training for teachers to enable them to teach students about cyber security.

Support will also be available for universities that come up with innovative proposals to improve cyber security teaching. A new internship program will help provide students with the work experience employers are looking for.

 Universities and Science Minister David Willetts said: “Today countries that can manage cyber security risks have a clear competitive advantage. By ensuring cyber security is integral to education at all ages, we will help equip the UK with the professional and technical skills we need for long-term economic growth.”

Plans in the report include:

• UK employer-led cyber security Higher and Advanced level Apprenticeship programs.
• UK projects to develop key stage 3 learning materials and training for teachers
• UK cyber security internship program to enable students to gain the work experience demanded by employers.
• Support, through the Higher Education Academy, for universities who develop proposals to improve cyber security teaching.
• Support for a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) to provide a mass audience with introductory training on cyber security.
• Developing a certification process for Masters degrees in cyber security and to help universities with certified Masters degrees to attract additional numbers and higher quality students both from the UK and abroad.
• Support for activities to inspire more people to consider a career in cyber security, including ongoing support for the Cyber Security Challenge, which launches an exciting masterclass competition today.