The number of young people taking IT subjects at GCSE has dropped 40% since 2015. To tackle the skills gap, organisations need to encourage a “top-of-the-funnel” intervention and investment from government organisations. We must also collaborate across the industry to create concrete measures focused on closing the gap.

One example of this is bringing talent in further down the line, by up-skilling employees internally or running returnship programmes for those looking for a career change. We must ensure, however, that we have more talent available in the first place. This is why we should encourage those interested in IT or cybersecurity as early as possible and provide a school pathway into the industry.

Another way to bring skills into the industry is by targeting talent outside IT and security. This promotes greater diversity and fosters an environment of innovation, where employees are encouraged to think differently.

As we enter the new normal and roles change, we expect that the talent gap will continue to widen. Technology will, however, continue to be at the vanguard of social and economic evolution, and will remain essential to the UK’s role in the global market. The industry has fulfilling careers to offer, and if we work together, we can ensure we’re doing everything in our power to close the gap and brighten the future of our industry.