Energus Hosts CyberFirst MEGA Events to Inspire the Next Generation of Cyber Talent
Last week, Energus was proud to host the CyberFirst MEGA events across three inspiring days at our West Cumbria facility, welcoming young people from across the region to explore the world of cyber security and emerging technologies.
Funded by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), the CyberFirst MEGA programme is part of a wider, long-term commitment to developing future talent pipelines into digital, cyber and technology careers. Through initiatives like this, the NDA is helping to ensure that young people have early access to the skills, experiences and inspiration needed to pursue careers in critical technology sectors that support the UK’s nuclear and wider industrial future.
Energus is proud to work in partnership with IN4 Group and the CyberFirst team to design and deliver these MEGA events, as well as providing the facilities and support needed to host them locally. As a regional hub for skills, training and innovation, Energus is committed to creating opportunities for young people in West Cumbria to engage with cutting-edge technology and to see a clear pathway into future education and employment.
Across the three days, 123 girls from eight schools in West Cumbria took part in a packed programme of hands-on cyber and tech challenges. Activities included a Cyber Heist code-cracking escape room, a GenAI prompt battle, and the chance to build, code and race LEGO robots. The event concluded with an exciting final showdown – the Cyber Calendar Challenge – where teams competed to be crowned champions and awarded the MEGA medals.
The events were highly commended by both teachers and students, who praised how engaging, interactive and confidence-building the experience was. Many students shared that the sessions opened their eyes to cyber and technology career paths they had not previously considered, reinforcing the importance of early careers interventions in shaping future aspirations.
A special thank you goes to the Nuclear Graduates and NDA Group Graduates who supported the sessions throughout the event. By sharing their own experiences and career journeys, they played a vital role in inspiring the next generation of cyber and tech talent and demonstrating the real-world opportunities available within the sector.
Building on the success of this event, Energus and the NDA will continue to support initiatives that champion early careers in cyber and technology. We are delighted to confirm that another Cyber and Tech-focused event is planned to take place at Energus this summer, further underlining our joint commitment to developing skills, widening participation and strengthening the future workforce in this critical area.
“At Energus, we are passionate about creating early, meaningful opportunities for young people to engage with cyber and digital technologies. Hosting events like the CyberFirst MEGA programme demonstrates our commitment to supporting the NDA’s wider mission to build a sustainable, future-ready skills pipeline. By working closely with the NDA, IN4 Group and our graduate community, we are proud to showcase West Cumbria as a place where young talent can access world-class experiences and see clear pathways into future careers in technology and the nuclear sector.” - Nicola Bacon, Head of People, Skills & Strategic Partnerships, Energus
