Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 15
15
Accepted
Fragmented departmental cyber security recruitment and training programmes persist across government.
Conclusion
Recruitment is fragmented across government, with some departments developing their own cyber recruitment and training programmes based on their needs.29 We queried how the Cabinet Office was working across Government, rather than letting each department train and recruit in its own way. The Cabinet Office told us that it was planning a new series of interventions. These included the Department for Work and Pension’s (DWP) cyber academy, which is reskilling civil servants who want a career in cyber. The Cabinet Office reassured us that DWP is running its cyber academy on behalf of the whole of government, so graduates would be deployed across government.30 Departments’ responsibilities for cyber resilience
Government Response Summary
The government agrees and commits to integrating Cyber, Digital and Data teams into DSIT by November 2025, establishing a new Cyber Resourcing Hub, and utilizing 2025 workforce data to identify vacancies. Early next year, DSIT will set targets for central initiatives and plans to assist departments in filling remaining cyber vacancies.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
2.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2026 2.2 The government acknowledges the ongoing cyber skills gaps across the public sector and is taking active steps to implement reforms that address this challenge. As part of the announced Machinery of Government change, Cyber, Digital and Data teams focusing on capability and skills will be fully integrated in DSIT by November 2025. 2.3 The government is attracting and upskilling new cyber security talent into government, through several comprehensive talent programmes including the Cyber Fast Stream, Cyber apprenticeships and the Government Cyber Skills Academy. 2.4 Through a new Cyber Resourcing Hub, government is creating a clearer and stronger government employer value proposition to attract candidates within a competitive market and streamlining the recruitment process. 2.5 As part of work to deliver the Government Cyber Skills Strategy, DSIT will continue to work with departments to understand their cyber skills gap and the local action departments are taking to address this. 2.6 2025 workforce data will be utilised to identify cyber vacancies in government and support departments’ plans on how they can fill these vacancies through current programmes and initiatives. 2.7 Early next year, DSIT will set how many of the anticipated cyber vacancies in government its central initiatives will address and how it will assist departments in their efforts to fill the remaining workforce gaps.