New degree aims to equip Greater Manchester with the 'skills and tools to protect businesses' from cyber threats

A new course is being launched in Greater Manchester to help meet the needs of the area's growing digital sector and protect businesses from the "everyday threats" they are facing.

Tameside College has opened up applications for its Higher Technical Qualification (HTQ) in computing (with cyber security), which is part of a wider pilot scheme to boost the number of highly skilled job candidates with the knowledge to help combat cyber security threats. The course builds on the success of the college's higher education computing courses, which have become among the first in the UK to be awarded HTQ status.

Daniel Evans, head of computing, business studies and accountancy at the Ashton-under-Lyne based college, said: “Computing is an ever-evolving subject, especially cyber security. Cyber security has been introduced as a HTQ because today it is the biggest threat to modern businesses. We want to equip the people of Tameside, the people of Manchester, with the skills, knowledge and tools to protect our businesses.

“At Tameside College we’ve identified a very large need for professionals with these skills to go into businesses in Manchester and further afield and be able to protect them from the everyday threats that are being faced.”

Prospective students can apply through the UCAS system, as they would for university, or apply online through Tameside College for the course, which is due to start in September 2022.

The college, which recently invested £60,000 into two dedicated laboratories for HTQ learners to work with a range of software and development tools, is looking forward to welcoming the first cohort of students in the autumn. Tech enthusiasts, or even the curious, are being encouraged to find out what doors the