A reflection by Helen Matthews, Head of Portfolio Delivery at CyberNorth
For years, discussions about cyber security skills have focused on shortages. Yet the latest insights from the North East suggest a more nuanced reality. The region is not short of talent. The real challenge is creating the conditions to retain, develop and fully utilise it.
As CyberNorth’s Skills Lead, I’ve had the privilege of working with the collaborative, engaged and dynamic North East cyber community. Much of the conversation with employers, educators and partners centres around one question: how do we ensure the North East has the cyber workforce it needs to thrive?
Recent insights from employers into the region’s cyber skills landscape reinforce many of the challenges and opportunities identified in research that those across our ecosystem are already experiencing. They also highlight an important truth; the issue isn’t simply one of talent supply, but how do we develop, retain and support that talent throughout their careers?
The North East has many of the ingredients required for a thriving cyber ecosystem. Its universities continue to produce highly skilled graduates, public sector and critical infrastructure organisations generate consistent demand, and investment in digital innovation is helping to raise the region’s profile. In many respects, the foundations are already in place.
However, a persistent disconnect remains between education and employment. Employers report difficulties recruiting experienced practitioners, while graduates often struggle to secure their first cyber role. This creates a paradox: a region rich in emerging talent but constrained by limited opportunities for progression.
The cost of the Brain Drain
The result is a familiar pattern. Ambitious professionals leave for larger cyber hubs, while others work remotely for organisations based elsewhere. Although this demonstrates the quality of North East talent, it also highlights a missed opportunity. Every individual who builds their career outside the regional ecosystem represents expertise, innovation and economic value that could have been retained locally.
This is not simply a workforce issue; it is an economic growth challenge. If the North East is to establish itself as a nationally significant cyber cluster, greater focus must be placed on developing mid-career talent, supporting business growth and creating more pathways into high-value cyber employment.
Building regional success
The rise of remote and hybrid working across the UK presents a significant opportunity for career progression. Skilled professionals can now access national and international roles while remaining rooted in the North East. The challenge now is to ensure the region becomes recognised not only for producing exceptional cyber talent, but for keeping it by creating an environment where ambitious careers, innovative businesses and a thriving cyber ecosystem make the North East a destination in its own right.
The future success of the region’s cyber economy will depend less on attracting talent and more on creating an environment where talent chooses to stay.
Call to Action for Employers
The North East has no shortage of potential. What it needs now is commitment. CyberNorth is calling on employers across the region to think beyond immediate recruitment needs and invest in the long-term strength of the ecosystem.
By opening more pathways into the profession, nurturing early-career talent and collaborating across industry, academia and the public sector, businesses can help create the skilled workforce needed for sustainable growth. Retaining talent is not the responsibility of any one organisation—it is a collective endeavour.
The opportunity is clear: together, we can ensure that the North East becomes known not only for producing exceptional cyber talent, but for providing the opportunities, careers and innovation that enable that talent to thrive.
