The Army is struggling to hire cyber safety consultants amid intense competitors from enterprise, its recruitment chief has admitted.
Richard Holroyd, managing director of Defence and Security at Capita, which handles recruitment for the Armed Forces, stated it was having problem attracting candidates given the wealth of jobs on provide.
He advised the Telegraph: “You’re saying to individuals with an curiosity in it, come and be a cyber specialist within the armed forces, however Raytheon is saying come and be a cyber specialist, BT are saying come and be a cyber specialist. So in these areas, you’re competing.
“In a labour market with full employment it’s a tricky, powerful play.”
Mr Holroyd stated Capita was on observe to solely meet 80laptop of its Army recruitment goal this yr, partially due to difficulties filling technical roles.
He stated: “Anything related to STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] is a highly competitive environment. So STEM skills are tough.”
Capita’s actual goal wasn’t given and the Ministry of Defence declined to remark on it.
The admission comes regardless of the rising significance of cyber for each offensive and defensive capabilities.
The Minister of Defence stated final month there was an “urgent requirement to continue to modernise the force to keep pace with technological developments”.
Boosting the digital abilities is a “matter of priority” over the following three years, officers wrote within the Defence Command paper.
Mr Holroyd stated cyber safety consultants have “much more choice” than in earlier years and admitted that non-public sector corporations have confirmed quicker at recruiting, generally making affords inside just a few weeks.
