1,200 Young Women Take Over St. James’ Park to Explore Cybersecurity Careers with Newcastle United Foundation and Sage
More than 1,200 schoolgirls from across the North East took part in a two-day EmPowerCyber event hosted by Newcastle United Foundation, combining practical and immersive STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) activities with thought-provoking workshops and insights from industry experts.
Working closely with the Foundation’s official technology partner, Sage, the leader in accounting, financial, HR and payroll technology for small and mid-sized businesses, the third annual EmPowerCyber event specifically engaging girls in STEM brought together 17 schools in the region to explore careers in cybersecurity and technology.
Taking place at St. James’ Park, the two-day event aims to spark interest in cybersecurity and STEM subjects as students approach critical GCSE decisions, shaping the future of talent in the UK’s growing tech sector.
With a cybersecurity workforce that has grown 50% in the last three years (source: gov.uk), the demand for skilled professionals is greater than ever, especially as half of UK businesses continue to report basic cybersecurity skills gaps (Cyber Security Skills in the UK Labour Market 2023 report). Initiatives like EmPowerCyber are critical for addressing these challenges while promoting gender diversity in the field, where women currently represent only 25% of the workforce.
The event featured over 40 companies and organisations, including local employers like Newcastle Building Society, Nissan and Northumbrian Water, alongside national and global names such as the RAF, Palo Alto, Opencast, and GCHQ’s CyberFirst team. Together, they delivered immersive, hands-on workshops, including codebreaking, hacker training, programming, escape rooms, and crisis response simulations.
These activities are designed to bring STEM careers to life, offering participants practical skills and inspiration while showcasing the growing tech opportunities in the Northeast.
Sage’s involvement reflects its commitment to STEM education and addressing the gender gap in tech. By hosting EmPowerCyber, Sage and Newcastle United Foundation are working to position the North East as a leader in cybersecurity, leveraging the region’s growing demand, strong investments, and burgeoning tech ecosystem to train and retain local talent.
“Sage is proud to sponsor this event and continue inspiring young women to consider careers in tech and cybersecurity,” said Ben Aung, Chief Risk Officer at Sage.
“The North East has a unique opportunity to establish itself as a leader in cybersecurity. Events like EmPowerCyber not only help address the shortage of STEM talent but also create an environment where young women feel empowered to pursue careers in technology.
“These initiatives have helped us increase female representation in our cybersecurity teams, and we hope to inspire even more talent through events like this.”
Newcastle United Foundation is equally committed to nurturing local talent and raising aspirations. Dawn Barber, Head of Business at Newcastle United Foundation, explained:
“EmPowerCyber is an immersive event exploring the range of STEM opportunities in the North East—fundamental to retaining talent within the region and supporting economic growth.
“By collaborating with Sage, we can help young people see the exciting opportunities available to them and inspire the next generation of leaders in tech.”
The impact of EmPowerCyber resonates with educators as well. Lee Willis, Head of ICT and Computing at Newcastle High School for Girls, said:
“This event is invaluable for showing our students that cybersecurity is an accessible and exciting career option. Having the chance to learn from leading local employers in a hands-on environment helps build confidence and interest. It’s a game-changer for the girls who attend.”
By showcasing the breadth of opportunities in cybersecurity and engaging young women at a pivotal stage of their education, EmPowerCyber is playing a vital role in addressing the gender imbalance in tech while strengthening the region’s economic future.
Among the students taking part in EmPowerCyber North East were pupils from Newcastle United Foundation’s Partner Schools and Premier League Inspires programmes delivered across the North East.
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