The UK Cyber Security Council has launched a new  Associate Cyber Security Professional title, which is designed to support those at the start of their cyber security career.

The title is open to general applications from 13 April until 17 May and is now a permanent part of the Council's professional registration framework. The Council now offers four professional titles.

The announcement comes following a successful pilot phase, with positive feedback from professionals, employers and Government.

The new title has been designed to address the cyber skills gap, by supporting more people at the early stages of their career, and giving employers greater confidence when recruiting for entry-level cyber security roles.

The Cyber Security Skills in the UK Labour Market from DSIT estimates that 50 per cent of all businesses in the UK have a basic cyber skills gap, while 49 per cent of cyber firms have faced problems filling technical roles in the past 12 months.

Those at the beginning of their cybersecurity careers often encounter the experience paradox where it is difficulty to demonstrate their knowledge and skills without an existing role in cyber security and vice versa.

The new Associate title aims to address this by giving individuals a recognised route to evidence their knowledge and skills, whether they’ve been secured through academic qualifications, self-directed study, certifications, bootcamps, apprenticeships, or through transferable experience from another career.

Those with the title will be listed on the UK's Cyber Security Professional Register; the only route to formal professional registration in the sector. Being on the register shows that an individual meets the competency standards set out in the UK Cyber Security Standard for Professional Competence and Commitment, demonstrating the appropriate knowledge and skills necessary for this stage in their career as well as upholding strong ethical values.

Giles Grant, CEO of the UK Cyber Security Council, said: "There are so many people who have the skills and drive for a career in cyber security but struggle to prove it to employers. The Associate title changes that. It gives individuals a credible, government-backed way to demonstrate their readiness for their first cyber role, while giving employers the confidence to hire them. This is a hugely important step in closing the cyber skills gap and ensuring the UK has the pipeline of cyber security professionals it needs”.