We partner with and have strong relationships with several local universities including Sheffield Hallam, Northumbria, Leeds Beckett, Teesside, Newcastle, Durham and Sunderland. We employ their ethical hacking and cyber security students to deliver a range of cyber resilience services to businesses throughout the region. They work under the supervision of senior cyber security practitioners, which has the bonus of providing students with relevant work experience. This prepares them for going into work after they graduate, and many of our students have gone into excellent jobs within the industry.
Our students are a pool of talented, informative and reliable individuals who can help businesses of all sizes through our Student Services, in conjunction with Cyber PATH. Find out more about each of our current students below:
Our alumni are previous students that we employed to provide our services for businesses, most of them have since left university and employment with us and gone into amazing jobs within the cyber security industry. You can read our alumni students stories below:
I wanted to join NEBRC to upskill myself (in both a technical and a professional sense) whilst helping the businesses that need it most!
I’ve learnt how to use lots of new software and tools effectively, as well as how to deliver formal reports, building my valuable skill of conveying technical information in an audience-appropriate manner. I’ve also learnt much more about the cybersecurity industry, and had chances to network with people truly passionate about what they do!
I chose to take part in the NEBRC student employment programme because it offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in real-world cybersecurity environments. As a student ethical hacker, I’m eager to apply and grow my technical skills while contributing to meaningful work that helps protect organizations in the North East. This programme aligns perfectly with my career goals and gives me access to expert guidance and industry-standard cybersecurity tools.
Working with the NEBRC has strengthened my practical skills in ethical hacking, vulnerability assessment, and report writing. It’s also giving me valuable exposure to live security projects, helping me build both technical and professional confidence. This experience has laid a strong foundation for my future in cybersecurity, especially in roles that require a deep understanding of risk management and proactive cyber defence strategies.
I decided to apply to join the NEBRC’s student employment programme as I had heard that it was a fantastic addition to your CV, which I wanted to strengthen to put myself in a stronger position when I start applying for a placement year – something which I am determined to do during my third year at university. I wasn’t very confident when I first applied, but I was keen to learn new technical skills outside of university, get a real insight into what it is like to work in the industry and build my confidence along the way – something that joining the team has massively helped me to do.
Working with the NEBRC is helping me to develop some excellent transferable skills and giving me some incredibly valuable experience for my future career. So far, I have worked with other students and NEBRC staff to complete work reviewing security policies, something which I hadn’t previously realised could be part of my future career! This experience has helped me to improve my time management, communication and organisation skills, all while giving me some amazing experience of remote working, a great introduction to real-life security policies and what they should look like, plus some knowledge of what it is actually like to work in cyber security. My role has inspired me to keep working and learning outside of my studies (I am currently working on an ethical hacking course) and it has helped me to expand my network so I can find more fantastic opportunities in the future. I am looking forward to gaining more experience completing many different types of work during my time with the NEBRC!
I chose to work with NEBRC because they offer strong support and valuable experience working in the industry. You also become part of a great community of like-minded people who want you to succeed. Working with NEBRC has helped me build lots of connections in the industry who can provide guidance and support.
I think the work NEBRC do with showing the importance of cyber security to small businesses within the local community is fantastic, and I’m happy to be a part of it.
Working with the NEBRC has helped to develop my professional skills by giving me the opportunity to work on real-world tasks and systems, whilst getting guidance and support from experienced professionals. They’ve also helped me to further my soft skills, and give pathways and tools into employment after university.
I chose to take part in the NEBRC student employment programme because it’s a truly unique opportunity for Cyber Security students to gain practical, relevant skills. While many foundation year offers or internships for Computer Science students focus on web development, it was difficult to find something directly related to Cyber Security. Of course, understanding how web applications are built is important for any security professional, but some students – myself included – are already past that stage. For such people, it’s challenging to find placements that offer meaningful experience in the Cyber Security field. In addition, working as an Ethical Hacker for the NEBRC is especially valuable because it doesn’t require taking a year out of university, unlike a traditional foundation year. That was a huge advantage for me – it allows me to continue my studies while gaining real-world skills at the same time.
At the NEBRC, I’ve been constantly learning and developing both technical and soft skills. A series of classes given by members of Leading Cyber gave me valuable insights, particularly on identifying strengths and weaknesses and managing team conflict. The tasks we are assigned are serious and hands-on – we conduct real security assessments for various companies under mentor guidance. For example, we run Nmap scans across a range of IP addresses to identify vulnerabilities like outdated software versions, exposed admin panels, or misconfigured hosts. The knowledge I’ve gained through this work is invaluable and essential for any aspiring Cyber Security professional, and I don’t think I will ever regret applying for work at NEBRC!
I chose to take part in the employment programme as I saw it as the perfect way to be able to gain experience in exactly the field, I wish to pursue a career in whilst being able to continue my studies.
The primary benefit that working with the NEBRC has provided is the ability to put the theory learned at university into real world practice meaning not only am I learning but that learning is also actively helping people. Aside from that the hiring process gave insight into what the application and interview process can be like for cyber security roles after I graduate. Plus, the role provides a great ability to network with current industry professionals and future graduates who I could meet again in future roles.
I chose to join because it offered a unique opportunity to gain real-world experience in ethical hacking while contributing to meaningful cybersecurity work. The chance to work alongside experienced professionals and help protect organisations from cyber threats was something I found both exciting and valuable for my personal and professional development.
I’ve gained hands-on experience that bridges the gap between academic knowledge and industry practice, helping me build confidence and a clearer vision of the cybersecurity career I want to pursue.
I wanted to learn and develop skills, as I was curious about what it takes to work in cybersecurity. It is enabling me to cement my knowledge through practical application. It will be beneficial to my future as I work towards entering this sector.
I chose to take part in the NEBRC programme because it offered an environment where I could develop my technical skills beyond the classroom and gain real-life experience in cyber security. I was also drawn to the impact this work has on small businesses and was interested in the dynamic of applying my skills while protecting their systems and operations.
My time at the NEBRC has allowed me to develop strong skills in communication and collaboration, alongside the hands-on cyber skills needed in the workplace. The experience has given me a space where I can use my knowledge to make a difference and has equipped me with the confidence to progress my career.
I chose to take part in this program to prepare myself for the cybersecurity industry. As this program offers a way for me to learn more about the real-world work environment of this industry.
I haven’t had chance to take part in the work provided so far, but it has been great getting to know students from other Universities and sharing experiences let alone the introductory classes that we had which provided us with the essentials needed to get started in this field.
I wanted to gain hands on experience of working within cybersecurity and applying what I have learnt at university, it seemed liked a really good opportunity to work with professionals within the field.
Working with NEBRC has helped me gain practical experience and knowledge with ethical hacking and gain experience working with cyber professionals which I can use when working.
My time with the NEBRC was instrumental in shaping my career. The hands-on experience I gained through real-world projects helped me build confidence and apply my academic knowledge in practical settings. The mentorship and exposure to industry professionals gave me a clear direction and helped me secure my current role.
My experience in working for the NEBRC allowed me to get ahead when applying for highly competitive internship and graduate roles at international companies. My work as an Ethical Hacker easily transitioned into my job role, with what I learned from doing security assessments at the NEBRC being a framework. The network and opportunities provided by the NEBRC gave me significant exposure in the local cyber community and opened more professional opportunity and development in return.
The NEBRC helped me by advancing my skills and allowing me to apply them to real clients to further my knowledge into how various tools and techniques work. Along with this it helped me understand how to take technical information and break to down into manageable chunks for the rest of the staff.
Working with the NEBRC was a great way to complement my university studies and industry certifications, allowing me to gain some vital hands-on consulting experience. Credit to them – it played a big part in helping me prove my knowledge and accelerate my way into the pen testing industry.
My experience at the NEBRC strengthened my ability to create clear and effective documentation for both technical professionals and end users. It also enhanced my troubleshooting skills, improved my ability to deliver strong user outcomes, and taught me the value of teamwork and time management in a working environment. I continue to use these skills daily as they play a key role in succeeding in my career.
Working at the NEBRC enabled me to gain invaluable real-world cyber experience which I could apply to projects, such as my dissertation – the creation and development of an AI-Driven Honeypot. This achieved Best Project Poster Presentation, which was also presented to a Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office.
The supportive environment and mentorship at the NEBRC played a huge part in gaining not only practical skills, but also speaking skills. The NEBRC gave me the opportunity to represent them at multiple different conferences, and deliver cyber training. This experience strengthened my ability to engage an audience and educate, whilst also developing important connections within the cyber security field.
I learnt more about the business aspect of providing cybersecurity support to companies, which increased my commercial awareness. I gained better understanding of impact of cybersecurity on organisations. Developing Commercial awareness supported me to obtain my current position at HSBC.
The NEBRC gave me a start in the industry, fostering my potential and developing it through exposure to great security minds, diverse clients, industry relevant services and to the dire need for security skills in businesses big and small. This experience helped me stand out at the recruitment stage, but more importantly upon starting my actual role in front of clients.
I am thankful for the opportunities that NEBRC provided to me in both training and on the job experience as it enabled me to build up my confidence and my skill-set in cyber security. This experience provided me with the necessary skills to transition from an academic environment to the workplace.
Providing student services on behalf of the NEBRC gave me confidence in my interview with knowledge outside of my studies and the ability to talk about the real impact I had made on local businesses. The NEBRC also supported both analytical skills, like report writing, and soft skills found through the Accredited Trainer programme that Martin Wilson took us through. All these skills are fundamental for a future in cyber security and often not found through a traditional university degree.
Working in the NEBRC is one of my career highlights. Something I still discuss with my employers because of the fantastic opportunities I’ve had to help others. Plus, it’s an organisation consisting of Police Officers, promoting and encouraging the ethos of putting others before yourself, using your skills for the betterment of society and helping others.
Being an ethical hacker for NEBRC has been a unique experience. In which aspiring ethical hackers are trained with the importance of ethics and opportunities which help them on the road to becoming successful consultants.
And that is exactly what you will need in your career if you wish to specialise in cyber security. Whether you remain a hacker, or dive into other areas of cybersecurity, your ability to be a good consultant, plays heavily into this!
Your ability to translate the tech speak into understandable language and knowing how to navigate tough situations is the recipe to success. The NEBRC gave me the opportunity to develop myself in these aspects.
I was also given access to expert training by some very skilled individuals. Through that training and opportunities to put the training to practice, it massively helped me to progress as a professional and as an individual.
I may have moved on from NEBRC, but I have learnt many lessons, had many good memories, meeting some exceptional people, ranging from Police Officers to cybersecurity specialists who gave me the opportunity to be a part of this great movement.
My time as an ethical hacker with the NEBRC was invaluable. It gave me the opportunity to apply my academic knowledge in a real-world setting, helping to protect small and medium-sized businesses and developing crucial protocols to help victims of domestic violence. This hands-on experience, combined with the guidance from industry professionals at the NEBRC, was critical in building the practical skills and confidence needed to advance my career, ultimately leading me to my current role as an IT Security Manager.
After a career change, I returned to education, studying Cyber Security at Sheffield Hallam University. Upon graduating, I entered the industry as an Information Security Consultant for one of the Centre’s partners.
Working with the NEBRC (North East Business Resilience Centre) was absolutely key to landing my first industry role and a deciding factor for the hiring company. The NEBRC enabled me to develop a strong foundation in communicating complex security concepts to non-technical audiences and showcase the value and enablement information security can bring to small and medium businesses and enterprises. These skills have been crucial in furthering my career, leading me to DigitalXRAID, an award-winning company where I leverage that early experience. My time at NEBRC, particularly in helping small and medium businesses understand and implement security solutions, directly prepared me for my role in providing truly impactful cybersecurity services to DigitalXRAID’s diverse client base today.
Working for the NEBRC helped me to develop key consultancy and security testing techniques alongside my studies at university. The experience I gained from the work I did with the NEBRC was key to breaking into the penetration testing industry. It gave me a headstart in my career and played a huge role in securing the job I have today.
