Young people can enjoy long and successful careers in the cyber industry - one of the fastest-growing sectors on the planet - regardless of background or gender.

That's the key message in a new video featuring leading lights from Cheltenham's cyber community showcasing the sector's wealth of opportunities available to young people.

The video has been produced by the team behind the Golden Valley Development, a unique project underpinning Cheltenham's efforts to be the UK's cyber capital, led by Cheltenham Borough Council.

Organisations including GFirst LEP, Gloucestershire College, CyNam and NCSC are collaborating to improve access for young people seeking the right skills for a career in cyber and digital in Cheltenham. And significant steps are being taken to ensure all opportunities are fully inclusive and embrace diversity.

Featured in the careers video is award-winning Cheltenham-based cyber blog Security Queens, which was started by three young women working in the digital technology industry.

Sarah Kingham of Security Queens, which recently won Best New and Up and Coming Blog at the European Cyber Security Blogger Awards, said: "Cheltenham is such an exciting place to be right now, and the cyber industry in particular is far more diverse than people might think.

"Tech, cyber and digital have a stereotypical image of being dominated by men, but that really isn't the case any more and I would strongly encourage young women to seriously consider these industries for their careers."

Another of the young people featured in the video is Jay Dare who, following an apprenticeship, is now employed as a technical consultant at Cheltenham-based computer networking firm Infrastar.

He said: "Our entire lives are shaped around the internet and using devices. I think in the past a lot of young people were getting overlooked because they might have lacked experience or wisdom in a certain field, but now it is normal to see younger people in high positions."

Cllr Victoria Atherstone, Cheltenham Borough Council's cabinet member for economy and development, also features in the new careers video.

She said: "Make no mistake, Cheltenham is booming and cyber is at the heart of that. So many exciting projects and schemes are not just planned for the future, they are happening right now as we talk, such as the Golden Valley Development which underpins our ambitions to drive skills and careers for generations to come.

"This is a hugely exciting time for our town. The scope of engagement with young people and the wealth of opportunities this will create for them is, I believe, unparalleled at a time when many towns and cities are struggling."

See the full video here.   

For more information go to www.goldenvalleyuk.com