Why Consider IT is backing See It Be It 2026
Why Consider IT is backing See It Be It 2026
Women make up just 17.5% of cyber roles in the UK, despite a 20% surge in the number of active cyber security firms in a single year (UK Government Cyber Security Sectoral Analysis 2026). The talent pool is growing, but it is not growing equally, and that gap is why Consider IT is sponsoring See It Be It 2026.
The conference is run by the Cyber and Fraud Centre Scotland and takes place on 2 October 2026 at Gogarburn in Edinburgh. As a Scottish cyber security business, we work with the talent this sector produces every day. Supporting the pipeline that feeds it is part of doing the job properly.
Here is what the conference involves, why the shortage of women in cyber matters to organisations across Scotland, and what attendees can expect on the day.
The gender gap in cyber security is a problem the industry can't ignore
Women hold only 17.5% of cyber roles in the UK (UK Government Cyber Security Skills in the UK Labour Market, 2025). They make up 48% of the UK workforce as a whole, so cyber is a sharp outlier.
Underrepresentation on that scale costs the sector twice. It shrinks a workforce that already cannot fill the roles it has, and it narrows the range of thinking applied to them. Security depends on people spotting what others miss, and a narrow talent base produces narrow thinking. That is exactly what attackers count on.
The See It Be It programme was built to tackle this directly, by improving visibility, access and support for women in cyber across Scotland. As Jude McCorry, CEO of the Cyber and Fraud Centre Scotland, puts it: "Across Scotland, there is no shortage of talented young women interested in cyber security, but many still struggle to see a clear pathway into the industry."
Visibility is the barrier as much as ability. It is hard to aim for a career you have never seen anyone like you doing.
Why Consider IT chose to sponsor See It Be It 2026
Our values line up closely with what See It Be It is building: a stronger, more inclusive cyber workforce in Scotland. As an IT and cyber security company in Edinburgh, we have a direct stake in the talent and culture of that sector. The people joining this industry over the next decade will be the ones defending Scottish businesses, public bodies and charities from increasingly organised attackers. They are also the people we hire.
We believe diverse teams produce better security outcomes: different backgrounds, different ways of thinking, stronger defences. This is not a PR exercise or a logo on a banner. It is a commitment to the communities and industries we serve.
What the See It Be It 2026 conference offers
See It Be It 2026 takes place on 2 October 2026 at Gogarburn in Edinburgh, run by the Cyber and Fraud Centre Scotland alongside strategic partners Royal Bank of Scotland and Fortinet. It is a free, full-day event open to female high school pupils, university and college students, educators and cyber professionals. The day includes:
Panel discussions with role models from across the sector, on routes into cyber, what employers look for and the less obvious cyber careers.
Hands-on activities showing what day-to-day cyber roles really involve.
Small-group mentoring with working cyber professionals.
A Careers Hub running all day for networking with employers and tech leaders.
A student who attended a Cyber Ladies Afternoon Tea, run as part of the programme with Check Point and Accenture, described the effect: "Listening to the stories of women who have made an impact in cyber has shown me that the industry is full of incredible opportunities."
Lauren Pyle, Sales and Marketing Director at Consider IT, attended a previous See It Be It event: "What struck me most was the energy in the room. Hundreds of girls asking sharp questions, and women already working in cyber showing them exactly what a career here can look like."
Registration is open now at cyberfraudcentre.com.
Why encouraging young people into cyber matters, for Scotland and beyond
Strong security starts with having enough skilled people to do the work, and Scotland needs to diversify its cyber talent pipeline to keep pace with the threat landscape. That range of perspective shapes how we staff our own cyber security services.
Every new entrant also strengthens Scotland's collective security posture, which matters most to the smallest organisations. The SMEs we support in Edinburgh, and the businesses we work with as an IT and cyber security company in Glasgow, compete for the same expertise as firms with far bigger budgets.
What's next: building Scotland's cyber future
The programme has already reached more than 200 schoolgirls across over 20 schools, from Aberdeen and Perth to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Falkirk and Stirling. The Centre is also running a competition for Scottish high schools, aimed at female pupils in S2 and S3. Winning schools bring up to 10 pupils plus chaperones to the conference, with a travel bursary where it is needed. Entries close at 5pm on 31 August 2026.
There is a route in whoever you are. Educators can enter the competition before it closes, or bring a group on the day. Cyber professionals can volunteer for mentoring or join a panel. Businesses can take a stand at the Careers Hub, or sponsor as we have. Closing the gender gap in cyber is not a job for one organisation.
Consider IT and See It Be It in partnership
We want to see a cyber industry that draws on the full breadth of Scottish talent, because stronger diversity means stronger security for everyone who depends on it.
If you are considering a career in cyber, registration is free and open now. If you are a business looking to strengthen your own security, get in touch. Either way, we are proud to sponsor See It Be It 2026 and to back the next generation of cyber professionals in Scotland.
