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Training the Next Generation of Cyber Security Professionals
Skills-shortages in cyber security are a persistent challenge for UK organisations, especially in CNI sectors where there is high demand for specialist skillsets. To address this challenge and ensure these organisations can access the expertise and resources they need, we launched the Bridewell Academy.
Our program recruits and trains entry-level cyber security talent, providing an 18 month FTC position with no prior experience needed. If you’re eager to embark on a fulfilling and impactful career, you’re in the right spot.
Our first Bridewell Academy cohort from 2023
This 18-month program blends formal training with hands-on experience, allowing you to work alongside a dedicated team of cyber security experts.
Once you’ve graduated, you’ll transition into a role within the company, collaborating with Bridewell professionals on client projects to strengthen their security. Since its launch in August 2023, the Bridewell Academy has welcomed over 35 associates, 10 of which have already graduated and are now thriving in roles in either our Consulting or MSS divisions.
We’ve built a reputation for being one of the most supportive and exciting places to begin a career in cyber and in 2025, Bridewell became one of the top places to work in the UK for Learning & Development detailing our commitment to developing future cyber professionals. So, whether you’re finishing your studies or looking to make a career change, the Bridewell Academy offers you the chance to learn, grow and excel in a supportive environment, all while protecting organisations who want the highest standards of cyber security.
The Bridewell Academy Offers Two Career Pathways:
We offer nine specialist pathways across two core divisions: Consulting Services and Managed Security Services (MSS). As part of the academy programme, you can choose the route that best aligns with your interests, strengths, and long-term career goals. Below is an overview of both divisions and their specialist areas.
1. Consulting Services
For those who thrive in client-facing roles and have a passion for technology, advisory work, and problem-solving, our Consulting division offers a dynamic and rewarding opportunity. In this pathway, you’ll work directly with clients to understand their unique security, privacy, and compliance requirements. You’ll provide tailored advice that not only helps organisations defend against cyber threats but also empowers them to operate confidently in an ever-evolving digital landscape.
Key Consulting Areas:
- Cloud Security and Solutions: Provide expert guidance on securing cloud environments, ensuring data integrity while maximising the benefits of cloud technologies.
- Governance, Risk, and Compliance: Support organisations in navigating complex regulatory requirements and building strong governance and risk-management frameworks.
- Strategy and Consulting: Work with clients to shape cybersecurity strategies that align with business objectives and mitigate potential risks.
- Data Privacy: Help clients understand and meet privacy obligations, embed privacy-by-design principles, offer DPO as a service, and manage data protection risks in line with UK GDPR and international regulations.
By joining our Consulting team, you’ll play a crucial role in strengthening client resilience and ensuring they are prepared for both present and future challenges.
2. Managed Services
For individuals eager to dive into code and engage with cutting-edge technology, our managed services offer an exciting environment. In this role, you will have the opportunity to develop and implement security solutions, test various systems, monitor client environments, and provide expert advice on system vulnerabilities. Additionally, you may be involved in investigating real cyber incidents, applying your skills to uncover and address security threats.
Key Managed Areas:
- Cyber Intelligence: Analyse emerging threats and deliver actionable intelligence to help organisations stay one step ahead of evolving cyber risks.
- Digital Forensics and Incident Response: Investigate cyber incidents by identifying and analysing digital evidence, offering critical insight to prevent recurrence and support rapid recovery.
- Security Operations Centre (SOC): Provide continuous monitoring and management of client security systems, enabling organisations to focus on core activities while we handle their security needs.
- Customer Success Management: Build strong, trusted relationships with clients to ensure they receive maximum value from Bridewell services. You’ll support service adoption, maintain clear communication between technical teams and stakeholders, and help clients mature their security posture.
By joining our MSS technical team, you’ll play a pivotal role in defending organisations against ever-changing cyber threats. Your hands-on expertise will be essential in building, monitoring, and maintaining robust security frameworks tailored to each client.
Mentors
Each academy candidate will be assigned a line manager, a technical mentor, and a guide to help them settle in. Together, they provide ongoing support, coaching and advice ensuring each academy associate has all the guidance they need to succeed.
Jayson Haynes
Early Career Business Partner
Martin Riley
Chief Technology Officer
Hannah Roome
Talent Acquisition Manager
Ashleigh Mbanini
People Business Partner
We run two cohorts a year, giving aspiring cyber professionals multiple opportunities to join the Academy programme. Applications for our latest opened on 10 November 2025.
Interview Days
January 2026
6th – 8th January 2026
July 2026
14th – 16th July 2026
Onboarding Days
March 2026
9th March 2026
September 2026
14th September 2026
These dates are vital for prospective candidates and new hires, so be sure to stay prepared and engaged.
After working in mental health rehabilitation for 10 years, I realised during the first Covid lockdown that I needed a new challenge. While exploring new career paths, cyber security quickly stood out as the most exciting opportunity. Its variety, continual learning, and the chance to make a real impact all appealed to me.
In September 2021, I began a cyber security degree with The Open University. As I progressed through my studies, I discovered the Bridewell Academy through a recommendation. What immediately caught my attention was how the programme is designed to tackle the cyber security skills shortage head-on by offering structured, hands-on training for people without prior industry experience. For someone like me, making a mid-career change, this sounded like the perfect environment to learn and grow.
After a successful application and interview, I joined the Academy in September 2024, just after graduating. From day one, during the onboarding week, I felt welcomed and supported. We were introduced not only to the Academy staff — Angel and Nikki — but also to CEO, Anthony, and colleagues from across the business. It really brought Bridewell’s “One Team” value to life, showing us that we weren’t just joining a programme, but a community.
The Academy follows an 18-month rotation model, where associates gain experience across different areas of cyber security. My first placement was within the Security Operations Centre (SOC). Starting in the SOC was daunting — there was a lot to learn — but the structure of the Academy meant I wasn’t alone. The first few months focused on shadowing senior analysts Gareth and Oliver and working through the SANS GFACT course, ensuring we had the fundamentals before taking on shift responsibilities.
By March, I joined Shift 4. My teammates Reynold, Sean, Ayetob, and Ryan, along with my manager Matt, have played a huge part in my development and were always available to share their experience and expertise. The Academy’s blend of formal training, mentorship, and real-world practice has accelerated my learning in ways I couldn’t have imagined.
The best part of the programme is the chance to rotate into different disciplines. Next, I’ll be joining the Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) team, an area I’ve always found fascinating. Knowing that the Academy is designed to expose us to multiple specialisms gives me confidence that I’ll come out of the programme with not only a permanent role, but also a strong, well-rounded foundation in cyber security.
Being part of the academy — and now winning a Rising Star award — makes me proud of how far I’ve come and excited for what’s still ahead.
For anyone looking to make a career change into cyber security, I can honestly say the Bridewell Academy is a unique and supportive place to start.
I joined the Academy having successfully completed a Cyber Security bootcamp through Firebrand and, what was a leap of faith to pursue a passion and interest in Cyber Security and leave behind the teaching profession after 17 years, turned into a fantastic opportunity with Bridewell and one of the best decisions I have ever made.
The Academy has been a perfect step into the profession and provided me with so many opportunities to develop my understanding in the role of consultancy within Cyber Security. The Academy gave me the chance to enhance my qualifications through the SANS GFACT exam and ISO27001 Lead Auditor and Lead Implementer courses, which are well-regarding and fundamental qualifications to gain in the industry. The training provided is exceptional and Bridewell really support you in giving you the time and investing in your own personal growth and development. The Academy offers a pathway into the industry that is tailored for those new to the industry- and for me, that was the ideal way to begin in a completely new profession.
I have always thoroughly enjoyed the culture within the Academy and Bridewell as a company, everybody works collaboratively and support each other as one team to go above and beyond for the clients. There is also such breadth, in terms of opportunities to gain exposure to different industry sectors with the diverse range of clients that Bridwell has, and you really are learning from the absolute best in the profession, particularly with Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) clients.
We were given time to settle into the Academy and I am now looking forward to the next phase of being involved in more client delivery and seeing the fantastic work we do within Cyber Security, I am relishing the opportunity to now work on projects and gain hands on experience delivering clients’ needs, in a supportive and collaborative environment and continue to be given the opportunity for further training to further enhance my credentials
I can honestly say I have enjoyed every moment so far of the Academy journey and feel it is the perfect route into the industry and a terrific way to gain all the skills and experiences needed to succeed within the business. I feel I have already learnt so much in my short time in the Academy and look forward to continuing the journey.
Rebecca has now completed Bridewell Academy and is now a Junior Consultant.
"Bridewell Academy has given me the opportunity to work in the cyber security industry alongside professionals who I learn from on a daily basis.
Since graduating the academy, I’ve moved into an Incident Response role which has provided me the opportunity to be at the forefront of defence and given me huge insight into the parts of an incident which someone might not typically associate with a more technical role, such as handling client communications and dealing with data privacy issues.
Bridewell Academy has provided me with a career that I always envisioned myself having and made that become a reality "
Prior to joining Bridewell, I worked as an apprentice CNC Machinist and always had a keen interest in cybersecurity. While working in engineering, I enrolled in an upskill program where I gained two cybersecurity qualifications and built a solid foundational knowledge.
Transitioning into a completely new career without prior experience was daunting, and finding entry-level opportunities proved challenging. Discovering the Bridewell Academy was a turning point. Reading success stories of others who had made similar career changes gave me confidence that this was the right path. Bridewell’s values resonated with me, and their commitment to developing talent stood out.
Since joining the Academy in June 2024 as an Academy Consultant, I have received exceptional mentoring, industry recognised qualifications and hands-on experience with real clients. I’ve worked alongside skilled consultants on diverse projects, gaining practical knowledge and confidence in my abilities. The supportive culture at Bridewell has enabled me to take on new challenges and succeed while producing meaningful deliverables.
Choosing the Bridewell Academy has been one of the best decisions I’ve made. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to transition or start their career in cybersecurity. Its structured learning, expert guidance, and collaborative environment make it an excellent choice for building a successful career in this exciting and growing industry. I am excited for my future with Bridewell and the opportunities for progression ahead.
Kian has now completed Bridewell Academy and is now a Junior Data Security Analyst.
Joining the Bridewell Academy has been a great way to launch my career in cyber security. Before the Academy, I was studying Computer Security at university. Now, I’m proud to be part of the Cloud Security team, where I continue to grow both technically and professionally. I’ve developed hands-on experience with Microsoft 365 tools like Entra ID, Purview and Defender. Just as importantly, I’ve built soft skills in project management, client communication, and collaboration within diverse teams.
One of the standout moments for me was leading my first project from start to finish. I initially thought I’d need a lot of support, but I was encouraged to step outside my comfort zone and was trusted to run a full CSPA engagement from the kick-off meeting to conducting the investigation, writing the report, and presenting the findings. That experience showed me I’m capable of more than I realised, and that support is always there at Bridewell if I need it.
Bridewell’s culture is what truly sets it apart. Everyone I’ve worked with, especially in the Cloud team, has been incredibly kind, supportive, and generous with their knowledge. No question is ever too small, and that openness has made all the difference in my development.
Georgina has now completed Bridewell Academy and is now a Junior Cloud Security Consultant.
Bridewell Academy has been the ideal for me to grow and take my first steps into the cyber industry. Over this time, Bridewell has supported me in completing four professional courses and given me the chance to work directly with clients for the past 15 months. This hands-on experience has been invaluable in preparing me for my next step as a Junior Consultant.
Will has now completed Bridewell Academy and is now a Junior Consultant.
It's Our People,
That Make Us Stand Out.
At Bridewell we are looking for talented individuals who are committed to doing the right thing, delivering exceptional work, and working as part of a rapidly growing organisation.
You can apply for the Bridewell Academy via the Workable platform or by visiting our careers page.
To be eligible to apply, you will either need a Cyber Security degree or equivalent; or have participated in and completed a Cyber Security focused training course or bootcamp.
Candidates who complete the Academy have the exciting opportunity to transition into entry-level positions at Bridewell, specifically within our Consulting or Managed service divisions. The journey at the Bridewell Academy starts with an intensive three-month training and induction program, designed to equip you with the foundational knowledge and skills necessary for success in your future roles.
Following this initial phase, you'll embark on a comprehensive 15-month period of role-based delivery training. During this time, you will gain invaluable, hands-on experience as an analyst or consultant in your designated area. This immersive training allows you to apply what you’ve learned in real-world scenarios, enhancing your expertise and preparing you for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in your career at Bridewell.
