Gloucestershire College has announced a new venture with the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) to offer new cyber degrees in Cheltenham from September 2020.

The partnership will expand computing and cyber security courses through a dedicated cyber training facility at GC's Cheltenham campus.

This builds on the recent announcement of over £2m of investment in cyber training facilities at the campus through the Government's Institute of Technology programme.

GC and UWE Bristol are working together to provide businesses and local students with access to first class cyber training, and information security solutions to support Cheltenham Borough Council's aim to make Cheltenham the cyber capital of the UK.

Matt Burgess, principal of GC and Professor Steve West, vice chancellor of UWE Bristol are due to host a joint event next month called 'Developing Cheltenham's future cyber generation' at the college's Cheltenham campus.

Local businesses are invited to find out more about the cyber partnership, and the event is being supported by senior speakers from NCSC - the National Cyber Security Centre - part of GCHQ, and BAE Systems.

They will discuss their initiatives to widen access to cyber training opportunities - vital to growing our cyber workforce, and the importance of future proofing your workforce, regardless of industry or business size.

As plans develop for the future of the proposed Cyber Innovation Centre in West Cheltenham, Tim Atkins will stress the importance of maximising a strong cyber skills base in Cheltenham, and how this could impact on our county's economic and strategic profile, both regionally and nationally.

Mr Burgess said: "Recognising the national shortage in cyber skills we were keen to identify a partner with the academic rigour and research credibility in this field, so we are delighted that with UWE a range of programmes including degrees will be available from 2020.

"This builds on our existing partnership of offering degree apprenticeships in areas such as engineering.

"This will generate a boost for the local economy as well as significantly raise Gloucestershire's cyber profile.

"Our partnership with UWE will ensure that we can support organisations by providing a strong talent pipeline of highly skilled individuals as we train the next cyber generation.

"I'd encourage local business leaders to join us on July 9 to hear more about the development of our new cyber programmes."

Professor Steve West, VC at UWE said: "This is particularly significant at a time when strategically, Cheltenham is establishing itself as the cyber capital of the UK."

The business breakfast will begin at 8.45am when a cooked breakfast will be served, with talks beginning at 9:30 followed by a Q&A session, and ending at 11.30am.

To book your free place at this event, visit: https://cyber-in-cheltenham.eventbrite.co.uk.