UK cyber training organisation, CAPSLOCK today announces a new partnership with Nationwide to help the UK building society set up a dedicated cyber security training programme to expand its Technology Development Programme. Working closely with Nationwide’s careers team, CAPSLOCK is the first cyber skills training partner tasked with supporting Nationwide with the onboarding, training and role allocation of new joiners into the cyber security function.
As a major UK employer, Nationwide is committed to developing the country’s cyber, digital and technology skills. For the last nine years, the organisation has trained over 300 graduates and career changers who want to fast-track their career into IT through its Technology Development Programme. The partnership with CAPSLOCK specifically focuses on cyber security to help Nationwide not only tackle the challenges of recruiting into cyber roles but drive improved diversity in the function and promote a cyber-first company culture.
Over 16 weeks, CAPSLOCK trained the Nationwide learners into Certified Cyber Security Practitioners with Ce-CSP certifications. CAPSLOCK’s curriculum simulated the real cyber security workplace, encouraging a team and problem-based approach so learners graduated with the context of how they apply their new skills in the cyber industry. In addition to practical topic areas within risk, process, and technology disciplines, the cohort focused on developing knowledge around impact skills and culture building, including ethics, resilience and business continuity.
This bespoke training will help Nationwide support the development of cybersecurity roles, and the programme’s success means that plans are in place to offer additional upskilling opportunities in 2025.
David Boda, Chief Security and Resilience Officer at Nationwide, said: “There’s always something new to learn when you work in cyber, but this makes staying ahead of the threat landscape challenging. You need different perspectives if you want to succeed. We feel that companies like Nationwide have a responsibility to help develop the UK’s cybersecurity skillset. That’s why we’ve partnered with CAPSLOCK – to bring more diversity not just into the company but into the UK cyber industry as a whole.”
Dr Andrea Cullen, CEO and Co-founder of CAPSLOCK said, “To combat threat actors, you must be able to think like one. That’s why the UK’s cyber resilience relies heavily on diversity of experience, background and thinking. The values of Nationwide’s development programme align strongly with our own. Learners don’t need to have a technical background. They can be graduates and career changers with a passion for cyber and valuable transferable skills from other life experiences. This is a vital part of the CAPSLOCK ethos and why we’re proud to support Nationwide in strengthening its cyber workforce.”
