Last week, over 120 Year 10 girls from schools across South East Wales gathered at Cardiff Metropolitan University’s School of Technologies for the first Empower: Girls into Cyber event of the summer – and what a start it was!
Designed to inspire the next generation of female cyber professionals, the event gave students the chance to get hands-on with real-world cyber challenges, explore careers in tech, and hear from women leading the way in cybersecurity. The day included interactive workshops, engaging panels, and the ever-popular Capture the Flag competition – all delivered with the support of some of the UK’s most influential cyber employers.
This was the first in a three-part series of events running across Wales this summer, with the next stops in Wrexham (4 July) and Swansea (10 July).
Driving change through sponsorship
This event series wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our industry sponsors and partners, who are helping to shape a more inclusive and diverse digital workforce for Wales.
Admiral is the headline sponsor for the entire Empower: Girls into Cyber series, and we’re incredibly proud to have their backing. Gareth Israel, Head of Security Operations & Cyber Defence at Admiral, shared:
“Empowering women in cyber security and technology is essential to fostering a more inclusive and innovative digital future. Admiral is proud to sponsor Empower Girls into Cyber—an initiative that not only highlights the importance of cyber security in today’s digital landscape, but also champions the inclusion of diverse perspectives in shaping innovative and forward-thinking solutions. By showcasing and celebrating the achievements of our female colleagues in the industry, we challenge outdated stereotypes and hope to inspire the next generation to consider a career in cyber.”
Sudo Cyber also brought a real buzz to the day by sponsoring and running the fast-paced Capture the Flag activity, giving students the chance to test their problem-solving and technical skills in a fun, competitive format. Fortinet also generously sponsored the Cardiff event, helping us to extend the reach and impact of this important initiative.
We would also like to extend our thanks to the CyberFirst Wales Industry Partners who commit to supporting events like these each year: PWC, the Office for National Statistics, the Intellectual Property Office, Sudo Cyber, Itsus Consulting, Pure Cyber, Swansea University, Thales, Airbus, Wales and West Utilities and Kocho. These companies provided hands-on activities and role models on the day.
This year they are joined by ambassadors from Cardiff Metropolitan University, the University of Wales Trinity St. David, Cardiff University, the University of South Wales, Technocamps, the DVLA, Vodafone and Digital Health Care Wales. Read more about how to get involved with CyberFirst Wales industry partnerships.
The power of partnership and proven impact
CyberFirst Wales is proud to work in partnership with schools, colleges, universities, and industry to increase the diversity of our cyber talent pipeline.
This event is a key part of the CyberFirst Wales Engagement Framework, which connects schools with industry support and targeted outreach activities. It’s an approach that works – and we have the data to prove it.
Our own programme data shows that while the Welsh national average for girls in A-Level Computer Science is just 13%, CyberFirst Schools that have been delivering the engagement framework with industry partnership for a year or more see that figure rise to 24%.
This is supported by broader impact figures from our recent CyberFirst Wales Social Value Impact Report, which found that for every £1 invested in CyberFirst Wales, there is a £8.41 social value return on investment — reinforcing the wide-reaching benefits of early, inclusive engagement in digital skills, and the return on investment for industry support and sponsorship.
By giving girls access to relatable role models, exciting experiences, and clear career pathways, we’re not just changing perceptions — we’re changing outcomes.
What’s next?
We’re looking forward to continuing the momentum at:
📍 Coleg Cambria, Wrexham – 4 July 2025
📍 University Wales Trinity Saint David, Swansea – 10 July 2025
Stay tuned as we bring more students, schools, and sponsors together to create a more inclusive future for cyber in Wales.
Want to be part of this journey?
Contact us at [email protected] to learn more about our events, partnerships, and impact.
